MasukELARA’S P.O.V.The dining hall was quieter than I had ever heard it as I sat down to eat. My plate was full before me, and I watched as Lucien sent me a nervous glance. He looked guilty, and that didn’t bode well for me. Normally, the pack dinners were loud, full of talking, laughing, stories, and children running up and down the walkways and getting scolded by their parents.Tonight, I could hear forks and knives scraping against the plates. The pack was tense, as if a dark cloud hung over us. A cloud named Abigail Sterling, and I watched as all eyes kept drifting to her.Some of them used to love her, at least they loved her more than they liked me, but now she was getting angry side-eyes and glances of distrust from the pack. Having an Alpha order the pack to keep their mouths shut so the little princess wouldn’t tattle-tale seemed to finally get them to see her with open eyes, proving her to be untrustworthy. It was refreshing. “Hello,” I said softly, eyeing the mountain of fo
ELARA’S P.O.VIt wasn’t the first time that I had heard that our parents were dead, but it hurt a little more this time, because Sarah had proof in a way. She had seen my mother’s brooch to prove that Lord Sterling had, in fact, known my mom before she died. “Did he tell you how they died?” I asked, breaking the tense silence.I wasn't sure that I wanted to know, but a small part of me wanted the details so I could finally have closure.“He said they put their nose where it didn’t belong. I think Lord Sterling killed them.” Sarah said, and my blood boiled, my face heating as I clenched my hands into fists. All this time, Abigail probably knew about her father killing her parents. Lucien definitely knew. Yet, no one told me. It was probably because they knew I would want to kill Abigail… and they would have been right. I was on the verge of storming out of this house and going back to Lucien’s office right now to kill her, vows to the Goddess be damned. “Elara,” Hera said hesitan
ELARA’S P.O.V.The lit fireplace crackled softly as I entered the living room of Sarah’s new home.It felt nothing like the cold, damp dungeon she had once been locked in. It felt safe, hidden, and peaceful. Considering it was inconspicuously placed right in the middle of the town, blending everyone’s scents so hers wouldn’t stand out, I was very impressed.If I were honest, I was jealous of the space, privacy, and quiet she had, but she deserved it after what she went through.Sarah sat curled up on the couch beneath a thick blanket, her knees pulled to her chest as she stared into the flames as if she hadn't seen a fire in years... and she probably hadn't.I shut the door quietly behind me, and she looked up. The moment she saw me, her eyes widened. “Elara?”I barely managed to take two steps before she was on her feet, throwing herself into my arms.I wrapped her tightly against me, burying my face in her hair as happiness surged through me. I hadn’t hugged her in years, and I cou
LUCIEN’S P.O.V.Seeing Elara’s face fall and the devastation in her eyes made my chest ache and my anger spike. It was clear as day that she was hurting, and the moment she stormed out of my office, I felt her start to break. My hand flew to my chest, my finger tips digging in as I felt our bond cracking. No. No! I hadn’t meant for it to be like this. I just needed Abigail distracted for a few hours, and the only way I could do that was to feed her ego and need for attention. Now, what had been a foolproof plan was coming apart at the seams because I hadn’t anticipated Elara walking in.Nothing was going to happen with Abigail, but seeing the betrayal on Elara’s face as she thought otherwise told me I should have warned her of my plan beforehand, but I hadn’t had time. The moment Elara stormed out of my office, it felt like someone had torn a piece of my soul from my chest. The bond burned so violently for me to go after her, pull her into my arms, and beg for her to forgive me.
ELARA’S P.O.V.My feet barely touched the floor as I stormed down the hall. It wasn’t fair of me to run to my sister when she was trying to heal. I doubted our relationship was even ready for me to come to her with my problems or heartbreak, but she was the only person I felt I could trust at the moment. Everyone else was either related to or worked for Lucien, and he had just thrown me aside.Sarah was my only remaining family.Tears blurred my vision, my chest aching so badly I thought my heart might rip itself apart as the mate bond continued to scream as if it were being repeatedly hit with a sword. How could he do that? How could he choose her over me after telling me he had fallen for me?I couldn’t understand it. It didn’t make sense why Lucien would push me away.My wolf had receded into the back of my mind, whimpering as she hid as if she were trying to get away from having to feel the same betrayal that I was. Lucien had chosen Abigail. That was the thought pounding ove
ELARA’S P.O.V.My wolf stiffened instantly, a low growl ripped from my chest before I could stop it as I laid my eyes on them. Lucien sat behind his massive desk. His shoulders were tense, his jaw tight. Perched right beside him, practically draped across the polished wood as if she belonged there, was Abigail.Her long legs were crossed, and she was leaning slightly to the side with one hand flat on his desk right in front of him, blocking him from working, and putting her breasts in his face.They were almost spilling out, and while I knew that between their previous relationship and shifting in front of each other, he had seen them hundreds of times, I was still fuming.Her other hand was tracing lazy circles on his forearm as she smiled at him, batting her lashes.And Lucien…he wasn’t stopping her.Both of them looked up at my entrance, Abigail’s smile growing wider. “Well,” she purred. “Look who finally decided to join us. I am so glad to see that you are okay after that fight







