Chapter 4

ELARA

“Who’s there?” I whispered into the darkness, my voice trembling.

The door creaked open.

Lucius stumbled in, his eyes were bloodshot and the smell of alcohol hit me like a slap. His steps were heavy and unsteady, and the way he looked at me made my stomach twist.

“You think you can hide from me?” he slurred, dragging the door shut behind him.

“Lucius, don’t,” I said, backing away. “You’re drunk.”

“You’re mine, Elara. You belong to me.” His voice was low and angry. He took a step closer, then another. “I want to have you and break all over again."

He reached for me. I slapped his hand away, but he grabbed my arm and yanked me forward. I cried out, and tried to get his hands off of me but I couldn't. He pushed me down onto the bed, trying to climb on top of me.

“Stop! Let me go!” I screamed, kicking and thrashing.

He raised his hand to hit me again, but I didn’t let him. I grabbed the nearest thing—a metal hairbrush—and slammed it into the side of his head. He fell back, groaning in pain.

I ran.

Out of the room. Down the stairs. Into the cold night.

I didn’t stop. My feet pounded the ground, twigs snapping beneath me. My breath came in sharp, panicked gasps. I didn’t know where I was going—I just wanted to disappear.

But the forest wasn’t safe.

I heard them before I saw them. Low growls. Heavy breathing. The smell of blood and dirt.

Rogues.

Three of them stepped out of the trees. Grinning like they've seen their prey. One licked his lips.

“Looks like we caught a little rabbit,” one of them said with his voice filled with filth.

I felt the need to puke.

“Pretty little thing,” another sneered. “We’ll have some fun with her.”

My blood ran cold. I turned to run, but they blocked me. One grabbed me by the hair and yanked me back.

“Don’t touch me!” I screamed, clawing at him.

He laughed and pinned me against a tree, forcing himself close. I screamed again.

And then—

Something huge and fast crashed into the rogue holding me, throwing him to the ground with a loud crack. The others turned, but they didn’t last. The man who attacked them moved like a storm—quiet, deadly, and brutal. One rogue’s neck snapped. The other fled into the woods, crying out.

I fell to my knees, shaking.

He turned to me slowly.

The moon hit his face, and I couldn’t look away. He was tall, with black hair falling over his forehead, strong jaw, and cold silver eyes that looked like they felt nothing. Not pity. Not warmth.

Just… stillness.

He didn’t speak.

I forced myself to breathe. “T-Thank you… thank you for saving me.”

He gave a small nod, nothing more.

I could feel time passing by and the silence was killing me slowly.

“I’m Elara,” I said, trying to fill the silence. “What’s your name?”

“…Alaric,” he said, with his voice low and flat.

That was it. No questions. No comfort. Not that I was expecting any—I sure was.

He looked at me like I was a leaf on the ground,something he just happened to notice.

“Why are you so cold?” I asked, hugging myself. “You saved me, but you don’t even care, do you?”

He looked down at me. “You’re safe now. That’s enough.”

I stared at him. Something about the way he spoke… the way he stood… made my chest tighten. I was tired. I was angry. And gods help me, I was drawn to him.

He turned away, about to leave.

But I moved and touched him. He stopped and turned to look at him.

I grabbed his shirt and pressed my lips to his. I didn’t expect him to kiss me back. But he did.

His hands grabbed my waist, pulling me close. His mouth was hot and rough. My breath caught. My body reacted before my mind could stop it.

Clothes came off. The forest disappeared. There was only us.

And in the middle of it—my heart skipped.

I felt it. A strong mint and strawberry scent hit me.

"Mate." I muttered in my head.

But I didn’t say it.

I didn’t want him to reject me too. He's sure so strong not to admit it or maybe he hasn't felt it yet.

I grabbed his head and deepened the kiss, he invited me in with his tongue and I couldn't help but wiggle my waist around his cock.

He slowly sat down on the grass while I straddled him. The kiss became the intense and I couldn't help but started grinding my hips, slowly then faster. 

Alaric slipped his hands under me and took my panties off.

In a few minutes, our clothes were off and only our groans filled the forest.

****

The next morning, I woke up on soft grass, and noticed a fabric covering me.

Probably his.

I stood up but didn't see anyone. He was gone.

I looked around, panicked—but no sign of him.

I sat up and reached for the shirt he left. I brought it to my nose.

The scent hit me.

It wasn’t just any shirt.

Only Lycans wore clothes like this. The seal.

Yes the seal, he's a Lycan king. 

My heart pounded.

Alaric was a Lycan.

And he was my second chance mate.

With no hope left, I went back to the pack. Bruised and sore. 

Lucius didn’t say a word, but the look in his eyes promised punishment.

Weeks passed.

I felt sick every morning. Tired. Dizzy. My stomach hurt, and my chest felt heavy.

Something was wrong.

I went to Mara—the seer. The only person I trusted in Lucius pack.

She took my hands, eyes going wide as she looked at me.

“Elara… you need to shift,” she said.

“I can’t. I’ve never—” My voice broke.

“Try,” she whispered.

We both went to an open filled where no one would see us but something in me asked her to leave and she did.

I tried to wolf out but I couldn't, surprisingly, I could feel and hear my wolf but I couldn't transform.

I went back to Mara's house. She touched my face, eyes full of shock and something else… fear.

“Elara,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “You’re pregnant. Do you know what this means?”

I stared at her in shock.

Pregnant how? How?

Tears filled my eyes.

“I don’t,” I whispered.