LOGINElara’s POVThe silence in our room felt heavier than usual after Kael left for the council meeting, and no matter how much I tried to distract myself, my thoughts kept circling back to the way his jaw had tightened before he walked out the door. I took my time bathing, letting the warm water run over my skin as though it could wash away the unease that had settled deep in my chest. By the time I finished dressing, boredom had crept in, but beneath it lingered something sharper, something restless.I decided I would not sit in that room and let my imagination run wild. The field always cleared my head. Watching the warriors train, hearing the clash of steel and the rhythm of movement, reminded me that strength was earned, not handed down through whispered politics and council votes.With that in mind, I headed downstairs, adjusting the sleeves of my training blouse as I descended. The moment my foot touched the last step, my gaze landed on the one person I least wished to see.Jasmine
Elara’s POVI giggled softly as Kael carried me down the stairs, my arms looped loosely around his neck while his hand rested securely at my waist, his warmth grounding me in a way that made everything else in the world feel distant and unimportant. The morning light filtered through the tall windows of the pack house, casting golden streaks across the polished wooden floor, I felt completely at ease.“Look who we have here,” came a voice that made my spine stiffen despite the comfort in Kael’s arms.I did not need to turn to know who it was. Jasmine’s tone carried that familiar blend of sweetness and venom, a forced melody that grated against my nerves the moment it reached my ears. She was seated at the dining table, her plate arranged neatly before her as though she had been waiting for an audience rather than a meal.“Hi, Jasmine,” Kael greeted casually, lowering me into my chair before taking the seat beside me.Her eyes did not leave my face as she returned his greeting with a t
Elara’s POVSomething cold pressed gently against my forehead, dragging me slowly out of darkness. The sensation was damp and careful, like someone afraid to disturb me too quickly. I tried to open my eyes, but the light pierced sharply through my vision, forcing me to shut them again.A soft voice broke through the haze.“Ma, can you see me? Can you hear me?”I blinked slowly, letting my eyes adjust bit by bit. At first, everything was blurred shapes and pale colors. Then Ava’s face came into focus, her brows drawn together with worry, a wet cloth still in her hand.“Ava…” My voice came out hoarse and unfamiliar to my own ears.I tried to sit up immediately, panic hitting me before full awareness did. “Where is Kael?” That was the first thing that escaped my lips.Ava quickly dropped the cloth onto the bedside table and supported me as I pushed myself upright.“Alpha King has been here with you the entire time,” she said gently. “He only stepped out not long ago to meet the border wa
Elara’s POVThe elder stepped forward once the war dancers cleared the arena, his voice carrying easily across the clearing.“The next event is the combat tournament between each pack’s chosen warriors. The rules are simple. No killing. Yielding must be honored. Strength without control is disgrace.”A murmur of anticipation rippled through the crowd.One by one, warriors from different packs stepped into the arena, swords gleaming under the fading daylight. They bowed briefly before circling each other, their movements sharp and calculating. When the first clash of metal rang through the air, it sent a thrill through the spectators.The sound of steel striking steel echoed powerfully. Sparks flew with every calculated swing. The warriors fought fiercely but with discipline, every strike measured, every defense deliberate. It was not chaos. It was art sharpened by survival.I sat upright, watching closely, Kael’s hand wrapped around mine as his thumb smoothed over my knuckles in quiet
Elara’s POVI had been staring at the ceiling for what felt like hours, watching shadows shift faintly along the carved wood above us. Sleep refused to come easily, no matter how exhausted my body was from the long day. My thoughts would not rest, and the closer tomorrow came, the louder they seemed.I turned slightly and saw that Kael was already dozing off beside me, his breathing slow and steady. Even in sleep, he looked composed, like nothing in the world could shake him.“I am worried about tomorrow,” I whispered, knowing he was not fully asleep yet. “What if I cannot stand beside you for long? What if I am still weak? I do not want to let the pack down.”His arm tightened around me almost instantly, pulling me closer against his chest.“You are not weak,” he murmured, his voice thick with sleep but firm. “I will be with you through it all, and I am certain the pack will be proud of their Luna.”He tilted my chin slightly and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips.“Now close your eyes
Elara’s POV“Ma, your former pack is outside, and your parents are with them too,” one of the guards announced respectfully.For a second, my heart leapt like it used to, like the old Elara would have dropped everything and run barefoot across the courtyard without thinking twice. I could already imagine my mother’s embrace and my father’s proud smile.But I did not run.I inhaled slowly and nodded instead, rising to my feet with measured calm. Things were different now. I was not just someone’s daughter returning home. I stood in a position that carried responsibility and eyes watching every move.“Take me to them,” I said.As I followed the guard outside, I noticed how much the grounds had transformed. Colorful banners draped across stone pillars, flowers lined the pathways, and guards were stationed at every entrance. Several packs had already arrived, and attendants were directing them to their assigned quarters.This festival was not a small gathering. It was political.“Elara!”







