Price Of Mercy

ELARA'S POV

The Seraphroot herb was hard to grind into paste, but I enjoyed it because it soothes the storm that had become my thoughts. 

It’s been two months of quiet. No attacks from Volkava and his beasts. Anton’s wounds had healed cleanly, he’s super active now. And, just when I’d started to believe that everything was beginning to go smoothly—

Nyx—an apprentice healer comes through the infirmary door, a little out of breath.

“Elara, you’ve been summoned to the hall,” she said.

I frowned. “Alpha Mateo?”

She hesitated and that made me uneasy. Then—

“Ironfang.”

My hands froze mid-air. “What?”

“Alpha Draven is here.”

The pestle dropped from my hands, rolling against the floor as Nyx goes to grab it.

It'll be fine, Elara.

His name sent shivers through me. I had felt weird all day— the restless pull in my chest since I woke up— and ignored it, thinking it was nothing.

But it wasn't ‘nothing’ because nothing didn’t make your pulse race like this. 'Nothing’ didn’t make your entire body remember what the soul wanted to forget.

The mate bond shouldn't work. He broke it and yet I feel it faintly whenever he's near.

**********

When I stepped into the council hall, the world quieted. 

There he was in all his glory— the monster every Thornshade pup was warned about, the Alpha who swore the goddess made a mistake by binding our fates. 

By the gods, he was breathtaking, standing tall and composed, his eyes hinting at something feral underneath… cutting through me.

The room felt tensed. Anton stood besides Mateo, arms crossed, rage thrumming in every line of his body. Mateo's was worse— his gaze could literally kill Draven.

Draven’s voice echoed through the hall. “I’ve come to collect my debt.”

My stomach dropped.

Mateo’s tone was tight. “What debt?”

Draven's slowly looks back to me, and the world shrank to the space between us. “You didn't tell them?”

Of course I did, but not Mateo. My mom and brother thought nothing of it and not to make a big deal out of it. They called his bluff…

I said nothing.

He continues. “You see, Mateo. We had an agreement that when her brother recovered, she would come to Ironfang for a month. Yet here we are.”

“She’s not going anywhere,” Anton snapped, stepping forward.

He ignores my brother and continues with Mateo. “You didn't think I let her go after she broke the rules of no trespassing out of the goodness of my heart, now did you?” He chuckles. “You owe me.”

“We owe you nothing. She's not going anywhere with you,” my brother says through gritted teeth.

Draven turned his head slightly, his expression unreadable. Then he faces me. “A little birdie told me your brother's been well for over a month, and yet, you thought you could play me, healer.”

Before I could answer, Anton yells, “Play you? Who do you think you are?!” 

Draven chuckles but it sounded dark this time, then in a calm voice, he says, “You seem well enough to challenge me. I’m pleased my herb worked.”

“You’re not taking my sister.” Anton growled. “We’re not at war right now, but I’ll be happy to make an exception.”

“Anton!” our mother’s voice cut in, soft but firm. She placed a hand on his arm. “Stop it.” Her gaze shifted toward Draven. “We already have enough enemies in Volkava’s beasts. We can’t risk a war with him. Plus, the Grand Alpha was the one who suggested this. Elara will be fine.”

Mateo sighs.

Anton’s jaw flexed, but he said nothing more.

I swallowed, stepping closer. “It’s only a month,” I said gently to my brother, though my voice trembled. “Then I’ll return.”

The look he gives me—like I’d already been buried.

I face Mateo. “Alpha, I'm sorry I didn't tell you.”

“You should have. Now my hands are tied.”

“I understand. Alpha Draven, I'll go get my things.” I said.

“No need to pack,” he said. “It'll be useless where we’re going.” Color drains from my face. “It’s not a courtesy stay.” He stands up, walking over to me. “We're done here,” he says as his gaze dragged across me— it was like a touch without touch, scorching through every inch of my skin. 

He broke the bond, yet my heart raced as his eyes were on me. I hate it. I hate him.

“Let's go,” he said as he grabbed my hand, my breath hitching. 

Anton’s voice thundered after us. “If anything happens to her, Ironfang, I swear—"

Draven halts but doesn't turn. “I don't respond well to threats, Everstorm,” he said calmly. “But I’ll remember yours.”

Mateo shifted uneasily; the air seemed to ripple with that raw, primal dominance that clung to him. This man was a predator first, Alpha second.

“I need to say goodbye.” I said quietly.

His eyes flashed gold as he turns to me. “ You won't.”

The room fell silent as he led me out, my mother clutching Anton’s arm to keep him still.

**********

At the border, the wind howled through the trees and I could see the gates of Ironfang territory in the distance. Suddenly, Draven froze. His guards, standing still. 

One asked, “Alpha, what's wrong?”

“It's too quiet.” He said, lifting his head and sniffing the air. His grip tightening around my wrist.

It should painful but It felt…protective.

Stop it, Elara.

Then his voice dropped, rough and dangerous.

“They’re here.”

Then it happened—

Before I could process what was happening, several enormous beasts came charging.

“Volkava’s beasts…” one of the guards shouted.

Draven moved faster than light. One second I was standing there, frozen; the next, his arm shoving me behind him. Claws met steel, snarls filled the air, and the night erupted in chaos.

The beasts came in a blur of muscle and black fur. Draven’s sword cut through one, but another lunged past him heading straight for me.

He turned, roaring, and threw himself in its path. The beast's claws struck before I could blink. It tore a deep gash across his arm, slicing through his armor.

“Draven!” I gasped.

He didn’t falter. With a savage twist, he drove his blade through the creature’s chest. The others fled.

He straightened slowly, his arm dripping blood, eyes fixed on the treeline. “Let’s move,” he said.

I was shaking both from fear—and the realization that he’d saved me for the second time. And I didn’t know why. We made it back to Ironfang in tense silence. The vicious looking guards at the gate tensed when they saw me, their glares cold and wary.

Draven’s Beta, Karl, approached quickly. “Draven—you’re injured.”

“I’m aware, Karl,” Draven said flatly. His eyes flicked to me. “Put her in the room.”

Room?! Hope it's not a cell with a bed, please. I pleaded internally.

Karl hesitated. “The one you—?”

Draven cut him off. “Yes. That one.”

I stared at him. I was so scared. I'm away from home and in enemy territory. 

Then that female voice, dripping with venom that I'll remember anywhere cut through the hall.

“So this is how it starts,” Zuri said walking in. Her eyes narrowed in contempt. “Her first day here and you’re already bleeding for her. How poetic.”

I open my mouth to speak, but she was already striding toward me. “You’re not at liberty to speak to either of us. You don't matter, here, Thornshade.”

Draven said. “Enough, Zuri.”

She turns to him. “I can't remember the last time you got injured or bled. You should've killed her from the very beginning,” then turned on her heel and stormed off.

I clenched my hands, biting back a retort. I wasn’t here to pick fights. 

Karl gestured stiffly dragging me. “This way.”