Chapter 5

ELOWYN

The guards escorted me back through the woods, one in front of me, one behind. The guard at my back, with a menacing expression, kept poking me and yelling at me to hurry along.

I didn’t speak.

What would be the point?

I was cold, hungry, and barely able to stand, yet I forced my legs to move, dragging one foot in front of the other as the sky lightened above the trees.

When we reached my home, I saw my father already standing at the door, a worried hand shading his eyes.

Beside him, my stepmother Beatha leaned against the doorframe, her arms folded, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips.

My father stepped down from the porch as the guards pushed me forward.

“Elowyn,” he called, eyes wide, voice shaking. “What have you done now?”

“She’s done nothing,” one of the guards cut in smoothly. “Alpha Kieran’s mate has requested her service. She’s to be her personal handmaid.”

My father blinked. “Handmaid?” he echoed, stunned.

Beatha let out a delighted little gasp and placed a hand dramatically on her chest.

“Oh, gods. To serve at the palace. You’ve been chosen, Elowyn.”

I stood frozen.

I wasn’t sure if it was the cold or their words that made my skin feel so numb.

“It’s an honor,” Beatha continued, glancing at my father. “One we should be thankful for. What a blessing.”

My father didn’t say anything right away. He just looked at me, his brows furrowed, mouth parted like he wanted to say something but couldn’t decide what. 

“Elowyn,” he said finally, softer now, almost cautious. “You’ll make the pack proud.”

I didn’t trust myself to respond. I nodded once, numb.

“Pack your things,” one of the guards said gruffly. “We don’t have all day.”

I stepped inside.

The house smelled like dried meat and warm herbs. I could hear the faint creak of floorboards above me and the low hum of conversation between my father and Beatha. I couldn’t make out their words, but I could tell they were arguing. Probably about me.

I walked straight to the tiny room at the end of the hallway, barely more than a broom closet, and dropped to my knees.

I didn’t own much.

I shoved what little I had, seven dresses, my boots, a frayed scarf, into a satchel, then reached under the straw mattress for the small locket my mother had left behind.

It was cold against my fingers.

I clutched it tightly for a second, then tucked it deep into the bag.

Just as I stood, I heard the snide voice of my stepbrother by the doorway.

“Well, well. Look who’s being summoned to serve the palace.”

I turned slowly to see Brennan, my stepbrother, leaning against the frame with a crooked smirk.

“Guess your stupid little crush didn’t pay off after all,” he said with a mocking grin. “Alpha Kieran still didn’t choose you.”

I stared at him.

“You really thought he’d ever see you as his Luna?” Brennan snorted. “You’re ordinary, Elowyn. Weak. Pathetic. No wolf. No power. Not even a decent face.”

I clenched my jaw. I was used to Brennan’s insults. But this time, his words cut deep.

My hands trembled as I pushed past him.

“Oh, and Elowyn,” he called after me, “try not to cry too loudly when she makes you scrub her toilet.”

Then he burst into loud laughter.

I gripped the satchel tighter and moved toward the door. My father was still arguing with his wife.

“Let her go! It’s what’s best for her. She has to learn to be strong.”

“You think serving as a handmaid will make her strong?”

The guards were waiting by the door.

“Let’s go.”

I followed. I didn’t wait to hear the rest of my father’s argument.

We stepped out and began to make our way back to the palace. I thought of Brennan's cruel words and the fate that awaited me. My stomach twisted.

If only Alpha Kieran knew what his mate was up to.

I swallowed hard, remembering what had made me feel anything for him in the first place.

While the other boys in the pack mocked me for my lack of strength and physical allure, Alpha Kieran had shown me kindness. Even if it was just once.

He had saved me from being tormented. One sharp word from him, and they had scattered like frightened pups.

You are safe now, he had said.

And I had nodded and run all the way home.

No one had ever stood up for me like that. Only him.

So when he was attacked and wouldn’t let anyone near him, I began slipping into his chambers, unnoticed, to care for him.

“You walk like your legs are made of rubber, wench. Go on!”

I quickened my steps at the guard’s command, though my stomach growled so loudly they surely heard it.

But they didn’t care. That made it clearer than ever… what I would be at the palace.

Unwanted. Unimportant.

Sabrina would use me until she had no more use for me. Then toss me aside.

I had allowed too many things in my life. The bullying, the insults, the shame.

But not this. Not her.

And this was my chance to stop it.

Without a single second thought, I broke into a run.

“Hey, wench! Come back here!”

Branches whipped my face. My satchel slammed into my side. My bare feet tore against stone and dirt.

But I didn’t stop.

I didn’t slow.

I didn’t look back.

The trees thinned. I saw the boundary stones, dark, ancient, carved with pack runes.

Just a few more steps and I’d be free.

“She’s heading for the boundary! Stop her!” one of the guards bellowed.

I gasped for breath, every muscle screaming. But I pushed harder.

So close.

I lunged, but hands snatched me out of the air and yanked me back hard.

I screamed as I hit the ground. Arms flailed. I kicked, twisted, fought like something feral.

“She bit me! The little rat bit me!”

They reached for chains.

Cold iron locked around my wrists. Then my ankles.

They dragged me to my feet and hauled me back like an animal.

When we neared the palace, the doors opened and Sabrina stepped out, blue eyes narrowing.

“What happened? What took so long? Why is she in chains?”

“She tried to escape. I think she wants to go rogue.”

Sabrina’s eyes snapped to me. A smirk curled on her lips as she walked forward.

“Tried to escape, did we?” she said. “Leave us.”

The guards obeyed.

She moved in, eyes sweeping over me.

“Whatever made you think your scrawny little body could outrun two strong guards?”

“Sabrina, you have to let me go. I don’t want to be your handmaid. Please. Let me go.”

Sabrina laughed, sharp and cold.

“Oh, you’ll serve me whether you like it or not.”

She leaned closer.

“You won’t just serve me, Elowyn. You’ll mate with the Alpha and carry his child for us.”

My breath caught.

“What?”

Her smile deepened, her voice soft and slow.

“I can’t be the one who fulfills the prophecy that Kieran’s Luna will die in childbirth.”

She stepped even closer. Her eyes locked on mine.

“You will bear his child, Elowyn.”

I stared at her, horror rising in my throat.

“You want me to die instead of you?”

Sabrina said nothing.

She didn’t have to.

Her smile said everything.