Elara's POV:The sharp pain in my chest came out of nowhere, wrenching a gasp from my lips as I stepped out of my bed. The world seemed to tilt, and my trembling hands reached for my phone on the nightstand. My mate, the man I’d given my heart to, was the only person I could think of in that moment of pain. My fingers shook as I pressed his number."Please, Damien… Please pick up," I whispered hoarsely. My voice barely rose above a breath. The line kept ringing. But he didn't answer.Tears blurred my vision as I dropped the phone on the bed. I pressed my hand against my chest, begging the pain to subside, but it only grew worse. I needed help. Summoning what little strength I had, I dragged myself to the door."Is anyone there?" I called out weakly. Silence greeted me. The Packhouse was unusually quiet, as if the world itself had turned its back on me.I gritted my teeth and stumbled into the hallway, clutching the wall for support. Every step felt like a battle, the pain radiating f
Elara's POV:The door swung open with force, the wood slamming against the wall as Damien stormed into the room. His icy glare bore into me. “What audacity do you have to barge into my study like that?” He growled.I stood there, trembling but. My heart felt as though it might shatter, but I couldn’t let him see my fear. Not now. “What has gotten into you, Damien?” I demanded, my voice shaking. “You were never like this. How could you ignore me for days? How could you… how could you cheat on me?”His lips twisted into a bitter smile, his eyes filled with disdain. “Me? Cheat on you? You’re so selfish, Elara.” His words dripped venom, and it took all my strength not to flinch. “I gave you everything—a family, a pack, power. But you couldn’t even let me have my own happiness.”I blinked, stunned by his words. The man I loved, my mate, was unrecognizable. “So she makes you happy, but I don’t?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.“Yes, she does.”My legs wobbled, and I clutched the edge
Elara's POV:I continued to breathe in and out as I locked eyes once again with my husband, Alpha Damien. His gaze, usually filled with warmth, was now filled with hatred. The warmth had left his eyes, leaving only coldness as he glared down at me. Damien accused me of killing his unborn child, the future Alpha of the Vellex Pack.The accusation was baseless; I did not take any poisonous herbs that could cause my miscarriage. I was innocent, but no one believed me. I wanted to scream this out badly, but my throat was dry and weak. From all the hours I had spent locked up in my room till now, not a single drop of water has landed on my lips.I glanced down at my bare feet, caked with mud and blood. Then to my palms, which were stained with the blood that had dripped from my head after villagers hurled insults, curses and stones at me. I could still feel the sting of the stones, and the icy cold of the rain made it worse.My parents died four years ago, three days after my first shif
Elara’s POV:“Wake up, Ely.” The faint sound of someone calling out to me stirred me.Who is calling me? I wondered, genuinely confused. My mind felt clouded, like I was stuck between two worlds.A sharp tap on my shoulder jolted me, followed by a louder yell. “Girl, seriously!”“Elara Jordan Jules, wake up this instant!”My eyes flew open, and I shot up, panting as though I had run a marathon. Blinking rapidly, I looked around, my heart racing. Before me stood my father, Gideon Jules, my mother, Winifred Jules, and Sabrina Duke, my mother’s best friend’s daughter.I froze. What’s this? What’s going on? Was it all a dream? Tears welled up in my eyes as I slid out of bed, unable to contain myself. I ran to my mother, wrapping my arms tightly around her. “Mom, I’ve missed you so much.” I whispered, my voice breaking.Then I turned to my father and hugged him just as tight. “Why did you both leave me?”My father chuckled, patting my back gently. “Are you this happy about turning 18? Y
Damien's POV:I stood frozen as my hands trembled, the gun still in my grasp. My eyes were locked on her body, lying lifelessly on the floor in a pool of blood. Her eyes were closed, her once vibrant skin now pale and cold. I couldn’t believe it. This couldn’t be real.What have I done?The gun slipped from my hand and hit the ground with a dull thud. Cold shivers ran through his body. Pain exploded behind my skull. My breath hitched, and before I knew it, I was screaming—screaming as if that would somehow stop the agony ripping through my head. I clutched my head with both hands, fingers digging into my temples as if it could force the pain away. But it didn’t stop.“Damien.” Caspian’s voice came through. He rushed to my side, but I shoved him away with all the strength I could muster.“Get away from me.” I growled, my voice rough and unrecognizable. I wasn’t sure who I was anymore. The world was spinning around me, but my focus was solely on the woman I had just... murdered.Sabr
CHAPTER SIXElara's POV:Three days ago was my 18th birthday, but nothing happened as it had in my former life.In my previous life, everything changed the moment Damien and I shook hands. The instant we touched, the Mate Bond sparked between us like an electric shock. His deep blue eyes locked onto mine, and he pulled me closer. “You feel it, don’t you?” He asked. The bond was undeniable, and I felt an overwhelming rush of emotions: love, excitement, and longing.At that time, every cell in my body had screamed that we were meant for each other.But this time? Nothing.When we shook hands three days ago, Damien didn’t even flinch. No spark, no recognition. Instead, he smiled politely, then drifted away to a corner where a group of girls from my middle school were laughing and chatting.Sabrina, ever the bright and optimistic friend, introduced me to Caspian. “I’ve always dreamed of us being sisters-in-law.” She’d said with a giggle, oblivious to the irritation growing in my stomach.
CHAPTER SEVEN Elara's POV:Of all the people, of all the places… Damien was the last person I wanted to see. Yet there he was, his presence commanding attention as if he owned the entire world. I wasn’t ready for what came next.His eyes scanned the crowd until it landed on me, and for a split second, it felt like time slowed.I stood rooted to the spot, unable to move, unable to think, as the memories of our last encounter played on a loop in my mind. Why is he here? And more importantly, how am I going to avoid him now?Honestly, I didn’t think Damien would even notice me in the crowd, let alone look directly at me. Yet, there he was. His piercing gray eyes landed on mine like a hawk spotting its prey, and for a moment, my breath hitched.I tried to step back, to hide among the crowd of girls still screaming and pushing to get a better look, but his gaze was locked on me. My chest tightened as if his stare alone could reach out and grab me.Before I could react, he started moving
Damien's POV:I hate the idea of Julian being here. The moment I saw him at the university gates earlier, I knew he wasn’t here for anything good.And now, seeing him standing in front of Elara, casually talking to her like they were old friends, made my blood boil. I wasn’t even sure what they were talking about, but it didn’t matter. Julian always had a way of inserting himself where he didn’t belong.Just like he did, two years ago.I walked towards him, my fists clenching involuntarily.“Elara.” I began, interrupting their conversation. “Step aside.”She turned to me, her eyes filled with annoyance. “He’s discussing with me.” She said, crossing her arms. “It’s rude to come in between.”That caught me off guard. For a split second, I faltered. Elara has always been soft-spoken, never confrontational. This wasn’t like her at all.A small, mocking smile tugged at my lips. “I don’t care the least about you.” I said, my tone dripping with anger as I pointed at Julian. “I have unfinis
Damien's POV~The doctor's words, “Only four hours! — echoed in my ears as I fled the hospital, my heart racing with urgency.Elara’s pale, adorable, and broken face followed me everywhere, her grateful little wish that I would save her father pushing me to keep going. I needed to get to the healer, the only person in the Vellex Pack with the kind of power to pull Gideon from the edge. I hopped into the rented car, the engine coming to life underneath me as I raced toward pack lands, but the city had other plans. The roads were packed with traffic, car horns honking while I clenched the wheel so tight my knuckles were pale. I checked the dashboard clock — an hour had already passed. Time was running out, along with Gideon’s prospects.Panic raked at my ribs, my wolf snapping and growling under my flesh, screaming for me to go faster. I couldn’t sit here, locked up in this metal cage while Elara waited, relying on me. I had an impulse response, turning into a side street and parking in
Damians POV~I was shocked when Elara’s phone rang, destroying the fragile moment between us. One moment, we were standing in front of that ancient scroll, our eyes locked, her question — “What do you mean?” —hanging unanswered in the air. The next her face went pale as she picked up the phone, and her voice quivered with panic. “Mom? Is everything okay?” I looked at her speechless, as her expression fell apart, and her notebook fell from her hands to the floor. Before I had time to react, she said “I’ll be there” and ran out of the site.I didn’t think. All I did was run after her, my heart racing, my wolf demanding I run faster. The trees blurred past as I shoved my way past a collective sea of students and professors, my gaze fixated on Elara’s hurriedly retreating. She was already frantically flagging down a taxi near the edge of the site. I couldn’t let her leave alone—not like this, not when she looked so shaken. I bolted ahead, getting to her just as she opened the taxi door, g
Elara's POV~The bus ride to the archaeological site had been long and bumpy, the hum of the engine doing little to soothe the discomfort I felt in my chest since Damien’s outburst back on campus. I had stayed away from him and from Julian alike, sitting near the front and burying my nose in a book I hardly read. From time to time, I’d sense their stares — Damien’s and Julian’s playful, mocking — and I’d ignore them, taking in the blur of tree after tree outside the window. When we reached the site — a vast stretch of ancient ruins set amid a wooded valley.The professors gathered us into a clearing, where they explained the assignment in firm voices. We were to disperse throughout the site, examine the artifacts and relics strewn around the ancient stones, and write down everything we could about what we saw — their history, their use, and their importance.I embraced the assignment, thankful for a distraction. I’d selected this course for a reason, well before my reincarnation. The
Damien's POV~A moment had passed before I panicked, as Elara’s voice sliced through the haze of our kiss, her question soft but concerned. “What do you mean?” My heart slammed, the truth hovering at the tip of my tongue—all the abuse I’d swallowed, the mate bond, that I’d been reborn, the love that haunted me. I opened my mouth, ready to let it all pour out, to tell her how she still owned every part of me. But before I could say anything, she shook her head, defiance flashing in her eyes. “I don’t want to hear it,” she said, her tone resolute, and then she turned and left, shutting the door with a click behind her.I stood there in shock, my breath trembling, while regret flooded through me. I had come so close to opening my heart, to telling her I loved her, that I never stopped loving her. But that alone served as, a stark reminder that the timing wasn’t right — that maybe it never would be. I sighed and sat down in my chair and dropped my head into my hands. I’d resolved to conf
Elara's POV~I couldn’t ignore the feeling that stuck with me during class, an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach that wouldn’t let go. Julian’s words from earlier kept echoing in my brain — his confession, the way he’d wove together his fingers with mine and asked about a relationship, how honest his voice had been, how it had taken me aback.I wanted to dismiss it, to convince myself it didn’t mean anything, but deep down, I knew otherwise. He was practically about to lay his heart out on the line, and if Damien hadn’t interrupted with that loud, commanding outburst, I might’ve had no choice but to face it head-on.As much as I hated to admit it, Damien’s interference had saved me from something I wasn’t ready to have. And that only made me feel worse.I found myself sitting in the back of the lecture hall, my pen tapping restlessly at my notebook, hardly hearing the professor over the chatter in my mind. Damien wasn’t teaching today, thank the Moon Goddess, but it didn’t matte
Sabrina’s POV~I was on my way to class when I saw them. Elara, Damien, and Julian, standing in the corridor.My gut twisted at the mere sight of them and I ducked behind some trees before they could see me, my heart racing with both curiosity and dread. I shouldn’t have cared. I should have just kept walking, head high as if they didn’t mean a thing to me. But I couldn’t.Not when Damien was here, with his eyes locked on Elara as though she was the only thing in existence. It made me sick — sick with jealousy, sick with longing, sick with the inescapable truth that the man I loved loved her.I bent down, trying to hear what they were saying over the sound of the leaves rustling.Elara had shivered away, leaving only Damien and Julian at odds, their words cold and scorching. I couldn’t hear every word they said, but I heard enough — Julian teasing Damien about Elara, Damien’s voice low and furious as he told Julian to stay away. My chest tightened. Damien’s lecture wasn’t just abou
Damien's POV~As soon as I heard Julian’s words, I panicked from where I was standing.I could tell just what he was about to say to Elara. Something to sweeten his way into her life, something about being, “together” talk, something about her “freedom” since she hadn’t found her mate yet. My blood was rushing, I could hear it in my ears, and I was unable to refrain myself from shouting across the corridor, my words ringing in the air, unarguable. “What on earth are you still doing there?! It’s time for class!” I had purposely added that part about him being a teacher just to hide my desperation, but I was shaking inside. I was scared. I couldn’t allow him to finish that sentence. I couldn’t allow him to ask her to be his, not when every fiber of mine still shrieked that she was mine.What I did not expect was Elara’s reaction. I’d steeled myself for her to turn on me, to scold me for interrupting, even to agree defiantly, about whatever it was Julian was proposing, just to spit
Elara's POV- I was so angry that I found it difficult to think straight. The sight of Damien standing in his office like he had any right to judge Julian, and to caution me on who I should and should not trust. Him, of all people!The man who’d broken my heart in my previous life, the man who had swallowed up Sabrina’s lies and never questioned his judgment. A man whose hands are stained with betrayal. How dare he call someone else a bad person? I left his office that day, my chest heaving, head full of messy anger and confusion. Sadness even.An ache that wouldn’t go away.The following day, I didn’t attend his class. I couldn’t stand the idea of sitting there, feeling his gaze on me, listening to his voice go on about pack dynamics as though he wasn’t the one who had shattered my world. Instead, I remained in my dorm and paced the floor, replaying our fight. His words rang in my head, “He’s not a good person” and I felt like screaming.Who was he to talk to Me? But as I thought mor
~Damien's POV-I hadn’t felt this miserable in weeks.Not since Elara caught me with Sabrina and everything went to hell. The rumours on the campus message board I saw about me dating Sabrina had only made matters worse, and I hadn’t slept well, tormented that Elara had read them.All I wanted was to visit her, to speak with her, to discover some way to bridge the gap between us. But she’d also been avoiding me like I was some kind of plague, always rushing off to this or that class or meeting, leaving me with nothing but passing glimpses of her in the halls.So when I entered the lecture hall that morning to teach, my heart skipped at the sight of her seated near the back, her head bent over a notebook.As I stood at the podium, I could see her, her dark hair spilling over one shoulder, her brow knotting as she concentrated. She was gorgeous, even with that closed-off look she had on now, the look she’d not had in our past life when she’d looked at me like I was everything to her. I