Elara

Chapter 13

I froze the moment I pushed the door opened, my tray felt like it weighed an hundred pounds.

I could feel the heat in them, the danger hidden in plain sight. Lucian and Ophelia didn't notice me at first, but then Lucian's head snapped towards the door, his amber eyes looked on me , sharp and alert, I could see the fear in his eyes.

I swallowed hard, my voice shook when I finally wispered," I...I brought your tea".

Ophelia eyes snapped towards me, " don't move" , she said coldly. Her voice carried that authority that made me freeze, that any shout could ever.

" Don't you dare say a word, do you understand me?".

I nodded, too scared to speak. The tray shook so badly on my hands that I almost dropped it.

Ophelia stepped closer, and I could feel her presence pressing over me, her eyes never left mine, " you tell anyone about this", she wispered low and dangerous " and you will regret ". If paraventure the Alpha hears a whisper of this , I will tear down your whole lineage.

"Yes" I whispered my voice barely audible. I sat the tray on the table, carefully as I could forcing my shaky hands to obey. I kept my eyes on the floor pretending I didn't know what was happening. The shadow of the candle light seems alive.

Lucian gaze didn't leave mine, I could feel his eyes on me, calculating and warning.

I wanted to look up, I really did.

Something inside me burned with the need to see their faces, to understand what I had just walked into, but fear held my neck stiff. I kept my eyes on the floor, on the pattern of the rug, on anything that wasn't them.

"Leave, "Ophelia said this time sharper.

I stook a step back , then another my legs felt weak like they can give in another moment.

As I reached the door, Ophelia voice stopped me.

" Elara"

My body stiffened at the sound of her voice, my fingers curled unto my palms. Slowly, I turned slowly enough to show I was listening , but I still didn't raise my head.

" You're a smart girl, " she said . Her voice smooth and gently." I know Ophelia too well she had something under her sleeve just like she did Iris."

Elara, you know your place in this pack, you know how things work.

" Yes, "My Luna I wispered.

I hated the way the world tested in my mouth .

She walked closer, I could hear her footsteps slowly.

This packs walls survive on loyalty, on obedience and silence. Her breath brushed my ears, " loose tongues don't live long here",

My breath caught at her words, that was a deadly warning , I was afraid she could harm my family they are people I cherish most.

I won't say anything, I said quickly , I swear it. I didn't see anything, I didn't her anything.

She laughed softly, Oh.. Elara you saw enough."

Images flashed in my heads, images of maids who never returned, punishment and wolves dragged into the forest at night.

The thought if it alone made my throat went dey immediately.

She studied me for a few minutes, I could see her gaze crawling over me, weighing me deciding if I was Worth keeping alive. Lucian stood at the far edge watching my every movement.

His voice broke through the air , if even a word of this reaches the wrong ear, he said , " I will make sure you're sent far away." Somewhere no one will hear you scream.

" I...I understand," my voice shook but the words were clear .

Finally, Ophelia stepped closer. " Good", you can"

now go ".

I didn't wait, I pulled the door open and slipped out, Closing it quietly before me. Only when I was in the highway did I allow myself to breathe.

I reached against the wall, my heart rising and falling fast.

What had I walked into?

Lucian, Ophelia too close.

Iris, the thought hit me like blows to the chest .

Everyone knew the story, how iris has been chosen by the moon, how she was meant to be Luna, how Ophelia had taken her place and how Iris had being exiled from the pack, broken and rejected.

And now this.

I pushed myself off the wall and started walking, the castle felt different now the walls seemed closer , I felt the moon was watching me , waiting to see what I will do.

By the time I reached the servant corridor, my legs were burning I slipped into my small room and shut the door behind me.

Only then did I slide down against the wall and sat on the floor.

My breath came out in a sob before I could stop it.

I pressed my hands to my mouth, bitting down hard to keep myself quiet.

I was just a maid, I wasn't meant to see things like that, I wasn't meant to know secrets that could destroy Alphas and Lunas.

I wiped my face quickly, crying wouldn't help me, crying wouldn't protect me.

I had to be smart.

Ophelia words rang in my head .

" Loose tongues don't live long".

I stared at the floor, my mind spinning , if Ophelia and Lucian are working together , if this affairs was part of something bigger.

I had seen the way Lucian looked at Ophelia, not like a man sneaking around, like someone confident , like someone who believes he is untouchable.

And Ophelia......she believed she had enough power to silence anyone.

Including me.

I stood slowly and went the the window in my room, the moon shown brightly outside I hugged myself tightly.

Oh Elara, what have you dragged yourself into?

I know secrets like this never stay buried forever.

This single step has bound me to Ophelia, she will still at nothing to make sure her secrets stay hidden.

But the moon knew and it was watching.