CHAPTER: 02 She Was That Naive.

"Can't you feel it? I've been holding back for months, resisting the urge to tell you about this, but seeing you now, Elara, I can't take it anymore. I am your fated mate," Damian confessed passionately, though Elara's love for Elijah still prevailed.

Elara placed her hand on her chest, feeling the quickening of her heartbeat and the slow release of her breath. Even before Elara's wolf awakened, she sensed the fated bond with Damian.

She couldn't deny Damian's words; there was truth in what he said.

How did this happen? Why only now did she feel the bond between her and Damian? Is it because they only met again now?

"Since I returned to the pack house a while back, I kept coming here because I immediately felt the bond between us the moment I saw you. My wolf reacted to your scent right away, but I also detected Elijah's predominant scent on you," Damian explained, avoiding direct eye contact with Elara.

Who would have thought that the feared Alpha would now be bowing down to a seemingly defenseless woman?

"I didn't approach or talk to you right away because I knew you both loved each other. I thought you'd be happy with my brother Elijah, but now that I know his true intentions, I've decided to take you away from him." Elara furrowed at Damian's words, contemplating what he meant about her boyfriend.

Elara stepped back, familiar with Damian and aware he wouldn't say anything good. Damian often used to pick on her and bully her in the past. Damian brought mischief and headaches to their pack, making him untrustworthy.

"I don't know what you're talking about, and I have no intention of believing anything you say. Yes, I feel the fated bond with you, but my feelings for Elijah won't change," Elara replied. She was about to walk away when Damian grabbed her wrist.

"Wait," Damian softly said, but Elara quickly pulled her hand away.

"I'm pregnant, Damian. And your brother Elijah is the father of my child. So accept my rejection to give Moon Goddess a chance to give you a new fated mate," Elara told him, leaving Damian no choice but to watch her walk away.

Elara felt her wolf's pain, even though they couldn't communicate. She sensed the hurt from rejecting her fated mate.

Elara couldn't help but be irritated with Damian for trying to ruin Elijah's image. She didn't know what Damian meant earlier, but she strongly suspected it was something to tarnish Elijah's reputation as the Alpha of Forestheart.

Elara sighed and walked towards Elijah's office. She noticed the door was ajar, and he seemed happily engaged in a phone conversation.

Elijah didn't even sense her arrival. She stood in front of the door, and Elijah continued smiling while talking on the phone.

"Hahaha, don't worry, babe. I'll give you your allowance; you can buy everything you want."

Elara frowned upon hearing the word "babe" from Elijah's lips. She cleared her throat, and that's when Elijah finally felt Elara's presence in his office.

It was as if a cold splash of water had been poured on Elijah when he saw his girlfriend behind him and promptly hung up the phone. Elijah's actions only heightened Elara's suspicion, but she chose to let him explain.

She pushed aside her doubts and the earlier turmoil within her—the things Damian had said about Elijah. They say that when you love someone, you turn a blind eye to the wrongs you see. Even when you're hurting, and your instincts tell you otherwise, you ignore it and remain blind to the truth.

"Who were you talking to?" Elara asked softly, unable to conceal the sadness on her face yet reluctant to intrude on Elijah's privacy.

"Oh, that's nothing. Just work stuff," Elijah replied nonchalantly. However, Elara overheard their conversation clearly. How could that conversation be work-related when he referred to someone as 'babe'?

Elara fell silent, a multitude of questions swirling in her mind. She wanted to throw them all at Elijah for answers but couldn't muster the courage. She was too afraid that digging into what she heard earlier might lead to Elijah resenting her.

"What do you need? Is there something you want to say? You could have just called me," Elijah said while facing the laptop and tapping away.

Elara walked closer to him, picking up both arms and resting them on Elijah's broad shoulders. She leaned her head against him, expressing love and yearning for her Alpha.

It had been days since Elara and Elijah last saw each other. Elijah was often busy, and they hadn't been able to go on dates or even have a decent conversation.

"I miss you, my love," Elara whispered, and Elijah remained silent, engrossed in his work.

"Do you have something to say?" Elijah calmly responded, holding Elara's hand and gently removing her arms around his shoulders. He turned to face her, holding her hand.

"Sorry if I've been a bit busy these past few days. I promise I'll make it up to you when I have free time," Elijah apologized. His words brought a smile back to Elara's face; Elijah's simple promise was enough to brighten her day and make her forget her earlier worries.

Elara was unconditionally devoted in love, to the point where she could be called a fool.

"It's okay, my Alpha. I understand that you're doing this for the pack. I'm sorry if I can't wait to see you now. I called you earlier, but you didn't answer, so I came here because I couldn't wait to tell you the good news," Elara replied, affectionately and excitedly smiling at Elijah.

Elijah furrowed his brow, intentionally not answering Elara's call because he wanted her to get tired of him. He had found his fated mate, and it was Fiona, Elara's sister.

The call earlier was none other than Fiona, who mentioned that Elara had something to tell him. Fiona seemed irritated while discussing it earlier.

He yearned to part ways with Elara but couldn't bring himself to do it. Over the passing years, his love for Elara remained genuine. Moreover, he hesitated to inflict deep pain on her, especially since her stepsister was his fated mate.

Preferring not to shock Elara, he sought to find another mate for her. Thus, he approached Fiona, urging her not to reveal their true connection to her sister just yet.

Elijah found himself pondering what news Elara would share with him.

"What's the news?" Elijah inquired, rising from his seat to face Elara attentively, eager to hear what his girlfriend had to say.

"I'm pregnant, Elijah. We're going to have a child," Elara happily disclosed to her now astounded and speechless boyfriend.

Elara's joyful smile slowly faded as she observed Elijah's changing expression. His initial surprise morphed into irritation and questioning.

"How did that happen? We only did it once," Elijah asked, swiftly releasing Elara's hands and pacing back and forth in front of his table.

"Are you sure it's mine?" Elijah questioned, not realizing how hurtful his words were to Elara.

"Are you insinuating that I've been with another man? You know how loyal I am to you, Elijah. How could you even think this child is someone else's?" Elara retorted, her boyfriend pausing in his steps, gripping her shoulders tightly.

Elara winced at Elijah's tight grip, feeling like her shoulder might break. "Ouch! That hurts, Elijah!" Elara slapped Elijah's hand away, making him finally realize the pain he caused.

"Ah, I didn't mean to. I just can't figure out how this happened. Isn't your body supposed to be weak? I thought you couldn't get pregnant," Elijah explained. Elara was puzzled by Elijah's unexpected reaction. She couldn't understand why he behaved this way, as it was not the reaction she had anticipated from her boyfriend. 

"What do you mean? Are you suggesting that you agreed to have sex with me because you thought nothing would happen since I can't conceive? You never thought about the possibility that this child could be yours?" Elara raised her voice, unable to contain her frustration and sadness.

"I didn't mean it that way, but the truth is, I'm not ready to be a father. I can't handle having a child right now, Elara. Can you please keep it a secret and not tell anyone that you're carrying my child?" Elijah requested, his words causing Elara's ears to ring.

Elara was taken aback by Elijah's words. She never expected him, the man she loved most, to react this way. She thought he would be happy about the news, marking her his chosen mate. Instead, reality proved to be far from her expectations.

"Do you hear what you're saying? How could you ask me to hide our child? Don't you think about me at all? I can't do this alone, Elijah, and what will people think of me once they find out? You're my only boyfriend," Elara's lips trembled as she spoke, on the verge of tears due to the frustration and sadness brought on by Elijah's words.

She had such high expectations for Elijah's reaction to this news. She thought Elijah would be overjoyed and finally acknowledge her as his chosen mate—but no, it was far from reality.

"You probably understand my situation now. I've just taken on the role of Alpha, and the rogues at the border are getting stronger. They can't find any weakness in me. If they find out you're pregnant and you'll be in danger, what do you think I'll do?" Elijah asked, tightly holding Elara's hand.

He skillfully manipulated Elara with flowery words and excuses. Still, the truth was, he just couldn't bear the responsibility of being a father because he knew he preferred to be with Fiona rather than Elara.

However, due to Elara's kindness and deep love for Elijah, she easily fell prey to his persuasive words.

"Really? How long do I need to keep our child a secret?" Elara asked, embracing Elijah. "Until the border war is over, I want to ensure that our child won't be in harm's way. So, for now, let's break up and let everyone believe that I am not the father of the child you're carrying," Elijah replied, planting a kiss on Elara's forehead.

Elara couldn't hold back tears because she didn't want to break up with Elijah and needed support from her boyfriend. However, if this was what he asked for, she felt powerless.

She nodded and agreed to Elijah's request. "If it's for our child's safety, I'll agree. But don't leave me; I need your help during my pregnancy," Elara replied as Elijah nodded, gently running his fingers through her long, dark hair.

"I promise I won't leave you and our child alone." Elijah's words were filled with lies until the very end.

Because of her love, it was as if Elara had forgotten Damian's words and what she had overheard about Elijah's conversation with another woman on the phone.

For Elara, everything Elijah said was enough. She would believe only in Elijah and no one else; that's how much she loved the man who deceived her.

She was that naive when it came to love.

TO BE CONTINUED