Chapter 3
Elena’s POV
Silence momentarily filled the air after I said that as if they were weighing things out and had come to a realization.
Severing our ties completely would be the best solution for all this mess.
For the entire year, I had been an exceptional Luna, bringing improvements to our pack in every aspect. I was even using my own money to finance everything because the Swiftridge Pack didn’t have enough finances of their own.
Well, they must have realized it.
If I leave, the pack would feel my absence so bad, and that would cause a massive stir in the pack as the members would significantly feel the impact of my absence.
I watched as Bryson clenched his teeth in frustration as if contemplating what he should do.
And by the looks of it, he wasn’t the only one who fell into a dilemma because not even a second later, I observed Glenda’s hold on his arm tighten.
She pulled Bryson aside and boldly talked to Elena with a raised chin. “I don’t think you’ll be daring enough to do that. Just to remind you, there’s a consequence in rejecting a mate. You might be a Luna, and Bryson might just be your chosen mate. That’s why you think you can handle it, but let’s face it: your body isn’t as resilient as a warrior’s body.”
It’s true. Rejecting a mate would severely damage your bond with each other, and it's like losing another part of you. Most higher ranks, like the Lycan family, the Alphas, Lunas, and Betas, usually find rejections manageable because of our natural strength, but it would still hurt so much.
Some low-level members like Omegas even died from it.
I smirked in confidence after hearing their so-called concerns. “Really?”
I was a direct-born pup from alpha, and I’m far more trained than warriors my age. I think I could handle it just fine.
Looking at Bryson with a smug expression, I arrogantly asked, “Do you think the same? Between the two of us, who do you think will suffer most from a rejection?”
Of course, I could be smug about it. I had been taking care of his sick mother for a year and all of the pack members. Even if they combined all of the pack’s money, they couldn’t probably pay what I’ve spent for them.
But then again, they probably think that I was obliged to do all that – to go far and beyond for them.
Trying so hard to keep his cool, he replied, “Is that even a question, Elena?”
Spreading his arms, he motioned to the entire pack. “Where else could you belong but here? Do you really think you can have somewhere to go if we reject each other and you leave here?”
My eyes suddenly went blank in pain as I was reminded of the family and pack I’d lost.
“That’s why…” He took a sigh, sympathizing with me. “I won’t reject you and put you all through that pain. It’s for your future, Elena.”
“Look, Bryson is already being so generous with you. You should be thankful.” Glenda clung her arm to Bryson again. “Don’t play tricks, okay? Don’t say such words like rejection, like you’re talking about the weather, just to seek sympathy from the members. It will make you look more… pathetic.”
Couldn’t handle her endless interruptions anymore, I finally spoke up.
“Who are you to interrupt us? This is a conversation between me and my husband!” I asked nonchalantly and signed for Zara to come forward.
Immediately, Zara approached us and bowed her head.
“Luna”, she greeted.
I nodded in Glenda’s direction. “Send this outsider away.”
“Right away, Luna.” Zara didn’t waste any time and came rushing to pull Glenda away.
As soon as her hand touched Glenda, I saw Bryson taking protective but hesitant steps.
Zara then halted a second and looked back and forth between Bryson and Glenda as she scolded them, “You two are very ungrateful!”
I watched her in stunned as she did that, and so was Bryson. He’s an alpha, so I knew he would burst because of that.
Immediately, I took a step forward to protect her. As he raised his hand in the air and was about to slap Zara, I moved in between them and grabbed his wrist, totally stopping him effortlessly.
I heard gasped from Courtney and Glenda while Bryson was looking at me with wide eyes, not to mention his jaw almost dropped from shock. However, I didn’t care how surprised they probably were that I was actually strong.
After all, they didn’t bother enough to actually get to know me.
“How dare you hit my people?” I asked in a cold yet calm voice that brought chills to their spine before I pushed him back and blocked his path from Zara.
My demeanor changed utterly as I exuded Luna’s power while I looked at Bryson with blaring eyes.
If Bryson weren’t an Alpha, he’d probably shiver as well.
“She’s the one who—”
“I don’t care what she has done or what happened. When it comes to my people, my Omega, I’m the only one who can punish them.” My gaze turned sharp. “They answer only to me and no one else.”
With that, I turned around and pulled Zara with me, leaving them in a haze of shock.
“Luna, are you okay?” Zara worriedly asked while watching me pace around the room as I sorted my thoughts.
I raised my hand and told her to wait for a second.
After a while, I heaved a sigh and went serious.
Looking at Zara, I saw her observing me, and I let out a small smile as I looked at her with conviction.
“I know what to do now.”
“That is…”
I smiled. If he couldn’t reject me because he needed me, then I’d tie his hands like he did to me.
Staring at Zara, I determinedly voiced out, “I’ll meet with the Lycan King.”
Elena’s POVI looked at him admiringly. How lucky was it that we had found each other and that he had offered me this marriage?It might be an arranged marriage, but how come I feel more fortunate about this one than the last?It’s like he wasn’t real. He was setting the standard too high. When Bryson wasn’t there for me and came back only to betray me, I was shattered. I didn’t think I’d ever believe in marriage again, let alone have one fall into my life unexpectedly.But with Deacon… even if this entire arrangement was just a bandage over the problems we were both facing, he was going far and beyond to make it bearable, memorable, and somehow, even perfect.Custodes was no ordinary place. It was secluded, hidden away, and meant for the most elite warriors. Gaining access was difficult, and getting permission without being a member was even more difficult. Almost impossible. And yet, here he was, ready to face anything—anyone—just to ease my worries.He wasn’t even asking me to go w
Elena’s POVI couldn’t help but laugh at his not-so-smooth attempt to change the subject. “You’re really bad at dismissing things.”He grinned sheepishly, avoiding my gaze as he picked up a glass of wine and took a sip. “I just don’t want to talk about that anymore. It’s all in the past.”Turning to face me, his grin widened. “I prefer talking about the present—and most importantly, the future. My future with you. Our wedding.”I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to suppress the grin that threatened to take over my face as he successfully shifted my thoughts.Raising an eyebrow playfully, I asked, “The wedding already?”“Yes, already.” He smirked, clearly pleased with himself. “You didn’t think I’d just sit around and not plan this, did you? This is important to me. I won’t delegate the planning to anyone else.”“Also,” he continued, his eyes lighting up, “I’ve already spoken to a few planners. And trust me, Elena, no one’s as lucky as I am right now.”His excitement was contagious,
Elena’s POVHe let out another soft laugh, as if recalling something silly, and his eyes sparkled with a mix of admiration and teasing. "You used to make this face whenever you tasted something you didn’t like. Took me a few reminders to memorise your taste."I lifted my head in shock, and before I could say anything, we both burst into laughter. It felt like a return to simpler times—before everything had changed, before life had pulled us in different directions.I was never particularly picky with food, but if I’m honest, it wasn’t easy to satisfy my taste buds. I could eat anything, but that didn’t mean I liked everything. I never let it show, or at least, I thought I hadn’t. It never occurred to me that someone might notice the small reactions I had when something didn’t sit right.Once the laughter subsided and we settled into a comfortable silence, my eyes drifted down, and that’s when I saw it again—the keychain hanging from his pocket. The keys and other trinkets were tucked
Elena’s POV“I see they didn’t manage to break you,” Deacon said amusingly, leaning back in his seat like he was offering me the stage to perform.Taking a sip from my wine glass, I shrugged in a half-boast and replied with a smirk, “Well, they tried. But if Bryson’s family and pack didn’t crush me, an angry princess surely won’t.”Deacon chuckled softly and shook his head in awe. His normally sharp features relaxed into admiration as he began cutting his steak into bite-sized pieces. “Tell me everything,” he said. “I want to hear it from your lips, not theirs.”Setting my cup down with a soft clink, I met his gaze steadily. “Your mother… she was discreet, but intentionally emphasised how much of a ‘second-hand bride’ I am. The Grand Princess? She called me shameful. My ex-mother-in-law helped heat things up. And Julie—Bryson’s cousin tried humiliating me by suggesting I’m unworthy.”I recounted it casually, as if we were merely discussing politics over dinner. But from the way Deacon
Deacon’s POVStanding upright with my hands clasped behind my back, I paced the length of the corridor outside the palace's eastern wing. From here, I could hear the faint echoes of music and laughter from my aunt’s birthday banquet. But I couldn’t hear it well enough to distinguish whether it was a laugh of enjoyment or ridicule.I was restless. My combat boots hit the polished marble of the hallway with an echo as I paced around the hallway, the long black coat that draped over me and was barely shielding me from the palace’s cold evening breeze. I had every intention of staying in my office tonight, busying myself with work and waiting for some passing attendant to inform me how the evening went for Elena, but my worry kept me from working.And the moment I heard she had accepted the invitation and come to the palace, I couldn’t sit still.So before I knew it, here I was, stalking the corridor like a warrior in hostile territory.She had been in there far too long already.I tru
Elena’s POVThe atmosphere had turned sharp and brittle, like a thin ice beneath bare feet. Whispers fluttered through the air around us, intensifying the tension as everyone started muttering under their breaths. The weight of their stares clung to my skin, heavy, suffocating. And then came the crack that split it all.Not from the ones you’d expect—not from the Duchess who stood beside me moments ago with warmth in her hand—but from the Grand Princess herself.She let out a loud, unrestrained snort, drawing every eye to her like a signal flare. With a sneer curling at the corner of her mouth, she tilted her head and inspected me with a look that could rot silver.“So this is the woman Deacon has chosen?” she said with venomous amusement. “A divorced woman, rejected by one noble family and now clawing her way into another?”Her voice sliced through the silence like a blade.Gasps echoed faintly around the room.The decor—the soft lighting, the finely tuned string quartet, the scent