chapter four

Minutes turned to hours and hours into days after Elsie made things clear that day

‎She was mostly indoors and secretly thankful that not many people knew of what happened between Edward and herself.

‎

‎The house that once felt heavy with silence slowly filled with movement again.

‎Servants moved in and out of the halls carrying fabrics, decorations, and lists. Members of the pack visited almost daily, discussing arrangements, traditions, and preparations.

‎The wedding was approaching.

‎And to the outside world, everything looked perfectly normal.

‎Elsie stood in the large hall with a parchment in her hands, calmly reviewing the list of decorations. Her voice was steady as she gave instructions to the workers.

‎“The white flowers should line the aisle,” she said. “Not the red ones. Move those to the reception area.”

‎“Yes, Miss Elsie,” one of the servants replied before quickly fixing the arrangement.

‎Elsie nodded slightly and continued down the list.

‎From the outside, she looked composed, efficient and focused.

‎Exactly what the Alpha had asked of her.

‎A few days earlier, the Alpha had called her into his study.

‎“The pack needs to see unity,” he had said. “If you oversee the wedding preparations, it will show them that you support this marriage.”

‎Support?

‎Blessing?

‎Goddess knew she really did not like the idea of this marriage

‎This words had once meant something to her when it came to matters of the pack but this time, Elsie simply nodded

“I understand, Alpha.”

‎And she had done exactly what he asked.

‎Every decoration.

‎Every invitation.

‎Every seating arrangement.

‎Everything passed through her hands.

‎To the pack, it looked like she had accepted the situation with grace.

‎But no one could see the quiet cracks forming beneath that calm surface.

‎Not even the way her chest tightened every time she wrote Edward and Sara’s names together.

‎Not the way her wolf whimpered softly each time Edward entered the room.

‎She didn’t allow herself to look at him.

‎never allowed it once to even think of twice

‎Instead, she kept working.

‎The more she worked, the less she had to feel, she kept saying this to herself.

‎And the less she had to face them.

‎Her distance from the family had only grown since the day she walked out of her room.

‎She avoided the dining hall during normal hours.

‎Every morning she woke before everyone else, eating breakfast alone in the quiet kitchen before the rest of the house stirred.

‎In the evenings, she waited until she was certain the family had finished supper before stepping inside to eat.

‎The servants had noticed.

‎But no one dared say anything.

‎It was easier this way.

‎No conversations and no pitying looks.

No reminders of what she had lost.

‎Still… there were moments she couldn’t avoid.

‎Like today, she felt it before she saw it.

‎That familiar weight on her back.

‎Edward’s stare.

‎It had become a constant presence over the past few days.

‎He watched her during meetings, during preparations and even from across the room.

Elsie kept her eyes on the parchment.

‎Pretending she didn’t notice.

‎But her wolf didn't even hide her notice in her and she hated it

‎Her wolf stirred every time he was near.

‎Craving his attention.

‎Waiting for him to speak and look at her the way he used to.

‎Elsie clenched her hand slightly around the parchment.

‎"No.... noo" she said to herself

‎She refused to give in to that weakness.

‎Whatever bond remained between them would disappear soon enough.

‎She had already accepted that.

‎Footsteps approached behind her.

‎Soft.

‎Hesitant.

‎“Elsie…”

‎Elsie didn’t turn immediately.

‎She knew that voice.

‎Slowly, she faced her sister.

‎Sara stood a few steps away, her hands nervously clasped together. Her eyes looked tired… red like she hadn’t slept well.

‎For a moment neither of them spoke.

‎Sara swallowed.

‎“I’ve been trying to talk to you for days.”

‎Elsie waited silently.

‎Her expression unreadable.

‎Sara took a shaky breath.

‎“I know I don’t deserve it… but I needed to say something.”

‎Her voice trembled slightly.

‎“I’m sorry.”

‎The words hung between them.

‎“I know this whole situation is horrible,” Sara continued. “And I know I’ve been selfish. I should have told you sooner about… about everything.”

‎Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach.

‎“I never meant for things to happen like this.”

‎Elsie’s gaze briefly flicked to the movement.

‎Then returned to Sara’s face.

‎Still calm.

‎Still distant.

‎“I was scared,” Sara whispered. “And now you’re the one suffering for it.”

‎Her voice cracked.

‎“You’re my sister, Elsie. I hate that I hurt you like this.”

‎She stepped closer.

‎“Please… forgive me.”

‎Silence.

‎Elsie looked at her for a long moment.

‎Her face showed nothing.

‎No anger.

‎No sadness.

‎No warmth.

‎Finally she spoke.

‎“I see.”

‎Two simple words.

‎Nothing more.

‎Sara blinked, confused.

‎“That’s… that’s all you’re going to say?”

‎Elsie adjusted the papers in her hands.

‎“There are still many preparations left to do future luna” she said calmly. “If that is all you wanted to discuss, I have work to finish.”

‎Sara stared at her.

‎The distance in Elsie’s voice felt worse than any shouting could have.

‎“Elsie… please don’t shut me out like this.”

‎Elsie paused.

‎Then she spoke without looking at her.

‎“We are not children anymore, Sara.”

‎Her tone was soft.

‎But final.

‎“I believe everyone has already made their choices and we should be bold enough to stand the consequences."

‎With that, she walked past her sister.

‎Sara remained standing there, watching her leave.

‎And for the first time, she realized something terrifying.

‎Elsie hadn’t forgiven her.

‎But she hadn’t hated her either.

‎It was worse than that.

‎Elsie simply… no longer cared. She no longer cared for her or the family. They were practically living with a stranger now.

‎

‎Down the hallway, Elsie continued walking without looking back.

‎But the moment she turned the corner, her chest tightened painfully.

‎Her wolf stirred again.

‎Because across the hall, Edward was standing there.

‎Watching her.

‎Just like he had been for days.

‎His eyes followed her every movement.

‎As if searching for something.

‎As if waiting for her to finally look at him.

‎Elsie walked past him without slowing down. She didn't even greet or show respect like she was supposed to do.

‎Her face completely indifferent.

‎But inside…

‎Her wolf ached.

‎Craving the attention she refused to give.

‎And the harder Edward stared at her…

‎The harder she forced herself to act like he didn’t exist.

‎

‎Just as she reached the end of the hallway, Edward’s voice finally broke the silence.

‎“Elsie.”

‎Her steps paused for the briefest second.

‎Not long enough for anyone else to notice.

‎But Edward did.

‎Slowly, she turned her head just enough to look at him over her shoulder.

‎Her expression was calm.

‎Unfamiliar.

‎Almost cold.

‎“Yes, Future Alpha?”

‎The title fell from her lips smoothly.

‎Respectful yet distant.

‎Like he was nothing more than the leader of the pack.

‎Not the man who once held her heart.

‎Edward felt something twist painfully inside his chest.

‎And for the first time since all of this began…

‎He wondered if the woman walking away from him was already gone for good.

‎Behind him, his wolf growled uneasily.

‎Because somewhere deep inside…

‎It felt like they had just made the biggest mistake of their lives.

‎And it might already be too late to fix it..