Chapter 67: A Test of Loyalty Elara POV

It was eerily silent in the forest tonight. It sounded muted, as though the trees themselves were holding their breath, the regular symphony of rustling leaves and distant animal noises missing. As I bent to collect the tiny nightshade blooming next to the base of an old tree, I gripped my basket more tightly and kept my senses sharp.

I whispered to myself, “Just a few more,” the sound of my voice giving a little solace from the deafening quiet.

The herbs I was looking for were uncommon and only flourished in the most remote parts of the rogue lands. I guess it was a good analogy for my own life. My back ached from the stretch, but I straightened after picking the last sprig of the plant. I heard it then, a small rustle that was too intentional to be the wind.

I froze and looked about in the dark, my heart racing. Long, jagged shadows swirled with the slightest breeze as the moonlight barely broke through the thick canopy overhead.

I was shocked by a harsh voice calling, “Elara.”

Three individuals appeared out of the darkness, and I turned slowly while keeping a neutral attitude. Rogues. My gut twisted at their disheveled looks and sly smiles, but I kept my calm.

“What are you looking for?” I put my basket on the ground and inquired evenly.

One of the three, the biggest, a guy with a scar from his jaw to his temple, came forward. “We want to ask you a few questions.”

I replied in a cold tone, “I’m not in the habit of answering questions. Especially not for people like you.”

He laughed ominously, and his friends laughed too, low and frightening. “Old woman, you’ll want to respond to these.”

Elderly woman. Even though the insult was upsetting, I didn’t fall for it. “What’s the reason for that?”

A lanky man with flashing eyes, the second rogue, raised his voice. “Because anyone who assists us in finding what we’re looking for will receive a sizable reward.”

I pretended to be careless by crossing my arms. “And what are you searching for? Please, tell me.”

“Two wolves,” Scarface stated, grinning broadly. “A woman and a man. Youthful. Seen in the vicinity of these areas.”

My stomach sank, but I kept a neutral expression. “No one has seen me.”

Scarface stepped closer as his smile weakened. “Be thoughtful before responding. This isn’t a game.”

I said, my voice firm despite my heart beating quickly, “I said I haven’t seen anyone.”

The third rogue, a woman holding a knife and grinning cruelly, came forward. “You’re telling lies.”

I shrugged, keeping my fear hidden. “Have faith in your desires. Nor do I have a tendency to lie.”

Scarface studied me with narrowed eyes. “Don’t you live out here by yourself? No friends, no pack. It must get a little lonely.”

I chose not to answer, denying him the gratification of a reaction.

Sharp-eyed, the woman with the knife spun it between her fingers. “Perhaps lonely enough to accept a deal? The alphas are offering defense. Coin as well. Telling us where they are is all that is required.”

My chest constricted at the idea of protection. They were taking advantage of my weakness and loneliness. And the coin offer? It was more alluring than I wanted to admit.

I answered slowly, “I told you that I haven’t seen anyone.”

He snickered, the wiry man. “Not even a quick look? A whiff of something? Elara, hurry up. Everybody has a cost.”

My nails dug into my hands as I squeezed my fists. “Your time is being wasted.”

Scarface’s eyes were sharp as he cocked his head. “Old woman, you’re not as intelligent as I assumed. You may have gained the alpha’s favor and secured your own safety. You’re putting yourself out there for people instead.”

I snapped, “I’m not putting myself out there for anyone. I’d like to return to my work now that you’ve finished wasting my time.”

With her knife gleaming in the moonlight, the woman approached. “Perhaps we ought to set an example for you. Demonstrate to the others the effects of their lack of cooperation.”

Despite my pounding heart, I refused to back down. “You can give it a shot,” I replied quietly.

Scarface stopped the woman in her tracks by raising a hand. “Enough.” His face was icy as he turned to face me. “You have already made up your mind. When the real problem finds you, don’t count on us to save you.”

The others followed closely behind him as he turned and vanished into the darkness.

I held my breath until I was certain they were gone, and then I let it out. As I picked up my basket, my hands shook under the weight of what had just happened.

My thoughts were racing as I walked back to the house. They were trying to find Anna and Lucas. More than money, the motivation they had offered was a chance to live in a world that had long since rejected me.

But at what price?

The warm light streaming in from the windows felt like a lifeline as I arrived at the house. As soon as I opened the door and entered, Anna and Lucas were in front of me. They were sitting close to the fire, talking quietly, their heads pressed together.

Anna raised her head, worry shining in her eyes. “Are you okay, Elara?”

I put the basket down and forced a grin. “Just a little encounter with some pests.”

Lucas frowned as his piercing gaze swept over me. “What sort of pests are they?”

I answered jokingly, “The kind that don’t know when to leave well enough alone,” yet their questions still weighed heavily.

I saw Lucas’s eyes as Anna stepped forward to help me in unpacking the herbs. His eyes flickered with mistrust as he watched me closely.

I averted my gaze and focused on the current task. I felt the sting of uncertainty for the first time in years as the rogues’ comments replayed in my head.

Had I made a wise decision? Or had I simply performed my own death sentence?

The hearth’s roaring fire did little to stop the chill that was seeping into my bones.