BANISHED TO THE SHADOWS

Elaris’s POV

It rained on my head, soaking me through and turning my body cold while the massive iron gates of the Alpha’s palace shut tightly behind me.

This sound was following me around through the courtyard like a concluding sentence.

I halted under the pouring rain and looked at the huge gates in shock.

Hours earlier, I had been thinking that this place was my haven.

And now I was being kicked out of it like some kind of criminal.

Only one guard stayed behind me up until the moment when gates closed completely.

But even he left after that.

I was all alone.

The rain dimmed the lights of the palace until I was able to see only some distant stars that were no longer within my reach.

Once again in my life, I was standing in the mud feeling that I was being abandoned by the man who used to be my home thanks to the love.

First Caedmon rejected me after I saved his life but killed our baby.

Now Averic kicked me out after the death of his mother.

Two mates.

Two places to call mine.

Two heartbreaking endings.

I pressed my lips together so that the sob that was rising in my throat did not slip out.

I would not fall to pieces here.

Tonight.

Not before the guards observing from the gate.

My hand reached towards my stomach.

There was one more reason to move forward.

My baby.

The life within me that knew nothing about betrayal, accusations, or how cruel the surrounding crowd could be.

"I will not let them take you away from me," I said softly.

And I turned from the palace.

Neryss helped me navigate the side streets of the pack village with one hand always on my waist when it seemed that my legs would give way.

It was raining and it was making the stone paths slippery, with each step bringing pain to my weakened body.

"You’re freezing," Neryss whispered.

"I can walk."

"I know that."

She held onto me tighter.

"That does not mean that you need to go through it on your own."

Those words nearly broke me.

But I glanced back over my shoulder once.

The palace had vanished already into the curtain of rain.

"Does Averic actually believe that I killed her?"

Neryss paused for a moment.

"He believed the evidence."

"That isn't what I asked."

She remained silent.

That silence spoke volumes.

My chest constricted.

Even he who had sworn to me that no one would ever banish me chose the evidence over me.

I turned to face forward.

"Then there is nothing left for me there."

Eventually we arrived at a small and rather dilapidated cottage situated behind a line of pine trees, far away from the pack's primary routes.

Its wooden walls had seen better days.

The roof was slightly sagging to one side.

Its windows were small, and the front door had been patched up a few times.

There were no guards here.

No council members.

No accusing eyes.

No Virelle.

Neryss unlocked the door.

"This belonged to my aunt," she informed me. "She left the pack many years ago. No one comes here anymore."

I stepped inside.

The cottage was filled with the scent of pines, dust and old wood.

This place was nothing like the palace.

But somehow the silence was surprisingly comforting.

"Can anyone find us?"

"Not unless they know where to look."

Neryss closed the door behind us.

"For now, you're invisible."

Invisible.

This was the first time I ever felt safe.

Neryss immediately started a fire in the hearth and I sat down on a small wooden chair.

I ached all over.

She came back carrying a large wool blanket and covered my shoulders with it.

“Drink this.”

She gave me a cup of hot herbal tea.

I looked at the steam going up.

“All of this you’ve planned?”

“Yes, I have plans in case you’ll need a place to disappear.”

My eyes went up.

“So, you knew?”

Neryss shook her head.

“I expected Virelle to cause problems, but not to see you being banished by Averic.”

That was exactly what I thought as well.

Fire was burning in front of us.

I swallowed hard.

“Maevra believed in me.”

“I know.”

“She knew I didn’t do anything to her.”

“I know.”

“But why isn’t it enough?”

Neryss sat next to me.

“Because deathbed wishes could be misinterpreted when someone powerful is grief-stricken.”

I looked at her.

“And why should I have protected her grandson?”

Neryss’ face changed.

She seemed to understand where I was getting at.

“She knew about the baby?”

I lowered my gaze.

“Yes.”

“You need to rest, Elaris,” said Neryss, trying to convince me.

“Because there is a life inside of you now, and that life depends on you.”

I held the cup in my hand.

“I can’t rest.”

“You can.”

“I need to find out some things.”

Neryss gave me a stern look.

“Not today.”

“What about Virelle—”

“Wait until tomorrow.”

I almost burst into laughter.

“Virelle is not a waiting woman.”

“She definitely isn’t, but you shouldn’t fight her when you are weak.”

Neryss kneeled down next to me.

“You have lost your blood. You have injured your wolf. Your body is still recovering after all that has happened between you and Caedmon. And now you are carrying Averic’s baby.”

Those words settled down inside of me like a heavy weight.

I looked towards the fire.

“I’m not sure what Averic would say if he finds out the truth.”

Neryss fell silent.

“Would you tell him?”

I shook my head.

“I can’t do it as long as Virelle rules the palace.”

It was hard to accept that.

However, there was no other way.

I put both hands on my stomach.

For some time, there was nothing.

And then I felt it.

A small warmth in the palms of my hands.

Nothing moved yet.

Only an essence pulsing beneath my skin.

My heart raced.

Child of Averic.

Our child.

It brought such bittersweet feelings that I could hardly breathe.

I had dreamed of having a future with him and now it would happen only because of me.

“Sorry for all the troubles,” I said to the child.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

“A future full of happiness was waiting for you there, but I took you away from it.”

The child pulsed with warm energy again.

I closed my eyes.

“You’ll never see any rejection, no matter what happened.”

For the first time after Maevra’s death, I imagined how things might turn out if I do not return back to the palace.

Small cozy house.

Happiness and peace in the life with my child.

No rejection for the boy and the world where everyone is afraid of him.

Maybe I could live like this.

Maybe I could rebuild everything from scratch.

On that night, I made a vow to myself.

I will no longer beg anyone that I am not lying and that those deaths were not my fault.

Caedmon had accepted my offering and labeled me a murderer.

Averic had given me refuge, provided safety for me until the proof of my guilt had been shown through grief.

I could not dictate what Caedmon and Averic did.

But I could control my own decisions.

I would live.

I would raise my child.

And when I was ready, I would expose the person responsible for destroying Maevra.

Neryss studied me from the other side of the room.

“You’re planning to go back.”

“No.”

Even I was surprised by my answer.

“I’m thinking about surviving until I don’t have to.”

She offered a small smile.

“That’s much more you.”

I looked out towards the window where darkness lay beyond the trees.

Out there somewhere was the palace.

Out there inside was Averic.

But I couldn’t let the pull of longing bring me back into harm’s way.

Not any longer.

While, in the palace, Virelle made herself at home in Maevra’s private rooms.

She stood in front of Maevra’s large mirror, admiring her reflection.

The smell of the old Luna lingered within the room.

It didn’t bother Virelle at all.

Instead, she poured herself a cup of wine.

“To new beginnings,” she said softly.

She lifted the glass.

The door opened behind her.

A servant entered nervously.

“Lady Virelle, Alpha Averic has decreed that the Luna’s chambers shall remain untouched until the investigation is completed.”

Virelle smiled.

“Of course.”

The servant bowed and left.

Once the door was shut, Virelle's smile vanished.

She put the wine down.

“Always cautious,” she said softly.

Then she went to Maevra's medicine cabinet.

One of the compartments was empty.

Her hand lingered over it.

For the first time tonight, her face betrayed her.

She snapped the cabinet shut.

Something had been taken out before she could.

And she did not know who.

That evening, Virelle moved through a side corridor and met Caedmon by the eastern wall.

The rain had lessened to a steady drizzle.

Caedmon rested against the stone archway and watched her come towards him.

"Well?"

Virelle smiled.

"Elaris is gone."

"Gone from the palace?"

"Banished."

Caedmon's face hardens with satisfaction.

"And Averic thinks she poisoned Maevra?"

"He thinks the evidence."

"That isn't the same thing."

"It is enough for now."

Virelle took a step closer.

"You wanted her gone. She is no longer protected by Averic."

Caedmon smiled.

"She still has that servant."

"Neryss?"

"Yes."

Virelle's expression hardened.

"And she has something else."

"What?"

"I do not know yet."

Caedmon frowned.

Virelle spoke in a lower voice.

"Elaris has been hiding something since the night she arrived."

Caedmon looked at her.

"Are you sure?"

"I have been observing her."

His expression grew more focused.

"Then find out what it is."

Caedmon spoke in a lower voice.

"She cannot be allowed to return."

Virelle crossed her arms.

"She will not."

"You said that before."

"And now she is sleeping in a cottage outside the palace."

Caedmon moved closer.

"I do not want her name to be cleared."

"That will not happen."

"What if she uncovers evidence?"

Virelle smiled.

"She can no longer access the palace records."

"What if Harwin discovers something?"

That thought made Virelle hesitate for just a second.

"Just now, I took care of Harwin."

Caedmon narrowed his eyes.

"You are becoming careless."

"And you are becoming impatient."

There was a long silence.

Then Caedmon laughed humorlessly.

"See to it that she disappears before Averic starts regretting his decision."

Virelle nodded.

"She will."

Neither noticed the subtle movement behind the eastern wall.

Somebody was listening.

Inside the cottage, I laid down in the tiny bed, sinking into the thin mattress with my tired body.

Neryss had occupied the room next to mine.

The fire in the hearth had burnt out.

I kept one hand under my head while resting another on my stomach.

It was the first night that I was attempting to sleep, not having to fear being accused by someone who entered my room.

Then I heard it.

The crack of a twig in the woods outside.

I opened my eyes.

Silence followed.

I sat up.

There was some other sound coming from outside the window.

The sound of footsteps.

Slow.

Purposeful.

Somebody was walking around the cottage.

I grabbed the small iron poker lying beside the bed.

“Neryss?”

No response.

And then the shadow passed through the window lattice.

I gasped.

A loud banging noise filled the front door of the cottage.

Once.

Again.

And once more.

My heart skipped.

Nobody was supposed to know where we were hiding.

Neryss suddenly appeared in the doorway, her face completely white.

“Don’t move.”

“Who is it?”

She listened.

The knocking continued.

And a man’s voice sounded through the wood door.

“Elaris.”

My blood went cold.

I recognized the voice.

It was Averic.

Before I could react, he spoke again.

Only this time, his voice was filled with panic.

“Open the door. You are in danger.”