Wrong Decision

 Elara's POV

I didn't know how I agreed to Bryan's terms, but somehow, I did. What was I even thinking? 

My hands shook slightly by my side as I stood before the nobles. I felt so different, rejected and worthless. 

What was I trying to do? Act confident? Act bold? But I wasn't. My heartbeat got faster immediately I spilled out those words. 

My eyes snapped to David who was looking at me with a tensed gaze. I'm sure he was wondering why I agreed to Bryan's terms.

But what's it to him? He doesn't even care about me.

I kept my gaze fixed to the ground, but snapped it back to David almost immediately. His eyes were still fixed to mine, his chiselled face, pale.

This time, his gaze was so tender and it made me feel so uneasy.

Why was he staring at me like he really cared about me? Has he lost it? I'm not Lila, his girlfriend.

This time, I turned my head to the side to avoid eye contact with him. After a moment, I turned to his side again and noticed he was still staring at me, his gaze unwavering.

Does David really care about me? No! Maybe I'm overthinking things.

“Are you sure about this, Elara?” King Aldric's voice cut my thoughts short.

I immediately jolted back to reality at the sound of his voice. David's gaze made me lost in thoughts initially.

I sighed deeply, thinking about it. 

“Are you sure about this, Elara? I hope you won't regret it.” I whispered in a very low voice to myself, making sure no one heard me.

Deep down, I was afraid. I don't know what the outcome would be, but I needed to act strong. I needed to prove to Bryan, David, Lila, and everyone else that I was strong. Stronger than they could ever imagine.

But what's the point? It's actually pointless, because I wasn't strong. I'm a weak omega and I have accepted my fate.

If my parents could hate me for who I am, who wouldn't? It's my fate. I was born to suffer. I was born to end up as a slave.

But what I couldn't comprehend was why the moon goddess would make a lowly slave like me mated to the Lycan princes.

It's funny and doesn't make any sense. But yet, it makes no difference. I wasn't going to be accepted. It's as good as not being mated to them.

“Elara…” The King's voice was soft, his gaze piercing.

“I… I…. I….” I stuttered, fidgeting with my fingers by my side.

“Of course, she will, Dad.” David cut in, his voice sharp as he looked straight into my eyes. It seemed like he noticed I was about to change my mind.

But then, it dawned on me. He really didn't care. It's confirmed, I was only overthinking things at first.

King Aldric turned to him, frowning slightly. “I wasn't talking to you. Allow her to speak for herself.”

“But she's done that already.” Bryan said.

“Shut up!” The king ordered, and the hall became quiet like a cemetery. All their eyes were fixed on me, waiting for what I would say.

I felt so uneasy, like I was already in the middle of the moon forest amidst wild beasts. Chills ran down my spine as I stood still. My confidence was back.

My jaw clenched as I raised my head, my eyes darting to Bryan in a disdaining gaze. His gaze was piercing, like a beast. Actually, he was.

I shifted my eyes away from him almost immediately and turned to David, Lila, and then to the king.

“I….” I shrugged, clearing my throat at the same time. “I'll do it. I'll go to the moon forest.” I said with confidence dripping from my voice.

“Okay then, it will be as you have said.” The king said. “You'll go to the moon forest tomorrow night.”

I felt like my heart was pierced with a needle as the king spoke. For a minute, I was the most confident. I felt like a super wolf.

But right now, I couldn't explain what was happening to my heart. It's been sealed. I was going to die.

Only a few wolves who have gone to the moon forest have survived, and they were really strong wolves. 

I'm nothing but a lowly weak omega. It's not possible to go into the moon forest and come out alive. I'm definitely going to be consumed by wide beasts.

I was afraid of dying, but a part of me wasn't. What's my life's worth? It's equal to nothing. Dying is better than the constant humiliation. 

At least my death will rid Bryan and David of the mate bond. They'll be free to mate with any other wolf they want.

Bryan's laughter echoed in the hall. “I wish I could go along with you.” He said, his voice filled with sarcasm. “You know why? I would love to watch how you would be eaten by the wild beasts.”

My gaze cut into Bryan's. The wrath that burned in my heart was obvious on my face as I looked at him. But what can I say?

Instead of feeling humiliated by Bryan, his words stirred up the determination in me. 

Lila scoffed. “Hey, Elara… How does it feel, knowing you're going to die soon.” She chuckled coldly. “Oh my… I know how it feels dear.”

She stepped closer to my side and whispered into my ear. “It’s nice, isn't it?”

I raised my eyebrows, wondering what she was talking about. 

“Your mates are sending you to your death.” She laughed softly, but sarcastically. “Doesn't it feel good?”

What she said didn't really matter to me, but I couldn't keep quiet. I had to give her the answer she deserves. 

“You know, that's rich coming from you who's just a plaything.”

Lila's jaw clenched. “What do you mean by that?”

I turned to the side, my gaze meeting the king, Bryan and David. They just watched us like a cinema, wondering what we were talking about, because they couldn't hear us.

I turned to Lila. “You know what I mean, Lila.”

“Well, I don't.” She said, “How dare you call me a plaything.”

“Because that's who you are to David.” I laughed coldly. “Maybe you haven't heard, but I'll do you the favour…. David isn't going to marry you, so you might want to reduce your expectations.”

“How dare you!” Lila thundered, everyone could hear her loud voice. She raised her hand to slap me, but seemed to remember the king was there, and she held back.