Chapter 5

Elana POV

I cannot believe we are still having the same conversation five years later.  I ball my fists together under the table and do my best to control the anger in my chest.  This is why I was brought to my home? Does that even make it a “home”? A place where I have to sacrifice my fated mate, my marriage, my life, so that I can beg to be “accepted” with no one here cares about my feelings at all?

Swallowing down my emotions like I have grown so accustomed to, I roll my shoulders back and meet my mother’s glare. 

"I am still unclear how I ruined her life," I reply.

Her mouth drops open, but she closes it quickly, before opening it again.  A smirk threatens to pull at my lips.  She looks like a fish out of water, gasping for air, but she is gasping for the truth. Something she won’t be able to find, because she knows that I am right.  I keep my expression cool, waiting for whatever excuse she is thinking of. 

“You stole her mate!" Mother shrieks.

"The Moon Goddess never intended for them to be together," I remind her. "Victor is my fated mate."

"They were in love," she shouts at me. "You should have accepted his rejection five years ago instead of trapping him with a child."

“If you will remember, the Lycan King believes in fated mates above all else,” I remind them. 

“He didn’t need to know Lara was not Alpha Victor’s fated mate,” Mom replies.  “It all could have been hidden if you had just played the part of the adoring sister.” 

I am dumbfounded. I have no idea what to say. Victor never attempted to reject me five years ago. But I know whatever I say will be my word against Lara's. They will always take her side; they always have.

I push away from the table. I have nothing else to say to them, and this will be the last time I set foot into this house.

"We are not done," my father finally says.

I look down at the man whom I used to have so much respect for.  Gray is peppering his hair, and deep wrinkles are forming on his face.  He looks tired, but I can’t bring myself to care why. 

"I beg to differ," I growl over my shoulder.  I stomp up the stairs.  Something that I was never allowed to do when I was a child.  I realize it is petty, but it gives me a small sense of revenge.

I find Gabby and Lara in my old bedroom. They are playing with my old dollhouse.  I peek through the doorway, listening to them play.  

"Then what happens?" Gabby giggles.

"The Prince lives happily ever after with his chosen mate," Lara smiles.

“What is a chosen mate?” Gabby cocks her head to the side.

“It is when you love someone so much that you toss aside the mate given to you by the Moon Goddess,” Lara continues. 

“Like a ‘vorce?”  Gabby asks. 

“Exactly like a divorce,” Lara smiles triumphantly. 

My cheeks burn with anger.  I know exactly what she is doing.   How dare she try to appeal to my daughter?  She will never be my daughter’s stepmother.  Not if I have anything to do with it.  

“Gabby,” I say, grabbing their attention.  “It is time for us to go.”

Lara looks up at me with a smirk on her face.  She knows I heard her, and she isn’t embarrassed at all.  She threw me to the lions today, and I will never forgive her for that.

Gabby rushes to my side.  I scoop her into my arms and nuzzle my nose into her neck.  She giggles loudly and pushes me away.  I do not bother to say goodbye to my sister, but she isn’t going to let me leave so easily.

Once I reach the bottom of the stairs, Lara yells from the top.  “Don’t forget about the ceremony.  It is important to this pack.”

“What ceremony, Mommy?” Gabby yawns in my arms.

“It’s for grown-ups,” I lie to her.

I storm out of my childhood home, hearing Lara’s laughter coming from behind me.  I will never come back here.  Mark my words. Never again.