THE REJECTED MATE - 007

ELENA'S POV

Serena found me in the kitchen at dawn.

"Pack your things. You're gone by noon."

I looked up from the dishes I was washing. She stood in the doorway. Arms crossed. Face hard.

"No reason," she said before I could ask. "I don't need one. You're done."

I dried my hands. Nodded.

"Yes, Luna."

She blinked. Surprised I didn't fight. Didn't beg. Didn't ask for another chance.

I walked past her. Went to my room. Started packing.

It was fine. I'd been here long enough. Learned enough. The plan could continue another way. From outside these walls. From somewhere safe.

I folded the few clothes I owned. The box under the dresser caught my eye. Old photos. I pulled them out. Looked at Lily one last time.

Plain. Forgotten. Dead.

I put the photos in my bag. Left the room.

Mira met me in the hall. Eyes wet.

"I can't believe she's doing this. You're the best assistant she's ever had."

"She has her reasons."

"What reasons? You did everything right."

I touched her arm. "It's okay. I'll be fine."

She hugged me. Quick. Hard. "Be careful out there."

I nodded. Walked downstairs. Through the kitchen. Out the back door.

The gate was close. Freedom was close.

Then I heard footsteps. Running.

"Elena!"

Caden. Coming from the house. Not dressed for the day. Hair messy. Eyes wild.

He reached me. Grabbed my arm. Not hard. Just urgent.

"Don't go."

I pulled away. "Your wife fired me."

"I don't care."

He stepped closer. Too close. I could smell him. Pine and leather and something else. Something that made my chest hurt.

"I need to know who you are."

"I'm Elena. Your Luna's assistant. That's all."

"No." He shook his head. "That's not all. I've spent a week in the mountains. Looking for answers. Looking for someone. And all I found was ruins and ghosts."

My heart pounded. He went looking for Lily.

"Something about you," he continued. "The way you move. The way you look at me. The way I can't stop thinking about you. It doesn't make sense. But I know—I know—there's something you're not telling me."

I said nothing.

"Please." His voice broke. Just slightly. "I need to know why I feel like I've been searching for you my whole life."

I looked at him. Really looked.

Tired eyes. Dark circles. Pain that went deep.

Five years ago, I would have given anything to hear those words. To see him look at me like that.

Now? I didn't know what I felt.

I opened my mouth. Almost told him. Almost said the words that would change everything.

"Elena."

Another voice. Serena. Behind him.

I looked past Caden. She stood with four guards. All armed. All watching me.

"Step away from her, Caden."

He turned. "What are you doing?"

"Protecting myself. Protecting this pack." She walked closer. Pulled something from her pocket. A small pouch.

My grandmother's herbs. Or what was left of them.

"Found these in her room weeks ago. Thought they were medicine. Had them tested instead."

She held them up.

"Poison. Slow. Subtle. Designed to stop a woman from conceiving."

My blood went cold.

"I've been taking these for months," Serena said. "In my tea. In my food. She's been poisoning me. That's why I can't have children."

Caden stared at her. Then at me.

"Is this true?"

I shook my head. "No. I never—"

"Search her things." Serena pointed at the guards.

Two of them grabbed my bag. Opened it. Pulled everything out.

The photos fell first. Lily's face. Plain. Forgotten.

Caden picked one up. Stared at it. His face went pale.

"Where did you get this?"

I didn't answer.

"Where?" Louder now.

Still nothing.

Serena grabbed another pouch from my bag. More herbs. The guards held them up.

"More poison," she said. "Proof."

Caden looked at the herbs. Looked at the photo. Looked at me.

Something shifted in his eyes. Confusion. Doubt. Pain.

"I didn't do it," I said quietly. "I never touched her food. Never gave her anything. Someone else did this."

Serena laughed. "Of course you'd say that."

"Search my room. You'll find nothing. Because there's nothing to find."

"We already did." Serena smiled. "Found enough."

My heart dropped. They planted evidence. While I was packing. While Caden was stopping me at the gate.

Caden looked at Serena. Then back at me.

"Elena—"

"Arrest her." Serena's voice cut through. "Throw her in the cells. We'll have a trial tomorrow."

The guards grabbed my arms. I didn't fight. What was the point?

Caden stepped forward. "Wait. Let me—"

"She poisoned me, Caden. For months. While you watched her. While you defended her. While you stood outside her room at night like some lovesick boy."

He froze.

"You think I didn't know? You think I didn't see?" Serena's voice was venom. "She's been playing you since she arrived. And you fell for it."

Caden looked at me. His eyes full of questions. Full of pain.

"Did you?" he asked quietly. "Did you poison her?"

I held his gaze. "No. I never did."

"Of course she'd deny it." Serena waved her hand. "Take her."

The guards pulled me toward the cells.

I looked back once. Caden stood frozen. Photo of Lily in his hand. Watching me go.

He didn't stop them.

The cells were cold. Stone floor. Single cot. Small window high up.

I sat on the cot. Stared at the wall.

Serena set me up. Planted evidence. Used my own herbs against me.

Clever. I almost admired it.

But who really poisoned her? Someone else in that house wanted her unable to have children. Someone with access. Someone with motive.

And now I'd take the blame.

I touched my face. Stranger's face.

Lily would have cried. Would have curled up and wished for death.

Elena sat straight. Thought. Planned.

Tomorrow was the trial. I'd have one chance to speak. One chance to tell the truth.

But would anyone believe me? A servant accused of poisoning the Luna? With evidence planted against me?

Caden might. Part of him wanted to believe.

But the photo changed things. He saw Lily's face. He knew I had it. He'd ask why. And the answer would destroy him.

I leaned against the cold wall. Closed my eyes.

The plan was dead. My cover was blown. I was trapped in a cell for a crime I didn't commit.

But I wasn't done.

Not yet.

Tomorrow, I'd tell them everything. Who I really was. Why I came. What Serena really was.

And if they didn't believe me?

At least the truth would be out. At least he'd know.