3: Fractured Loyalty

Elara Moonstone

I couldn't sit still, anger was bubbling inside of me. Even though I have prided myself has being patient with what Rowan has done, I can’t control the anger bubbling inside of me.

I knew I had to see the elders and speak to them, I needed to clear this madness and ask why they had kept shut during the council meeting.

I had sent out a private meeting to the elders letting them know I needed to see them, I met them all seated and the murmur seized as I approached.

“Luna Elara,” Torin said softly, “why have you gathered us so quickly?”

I couldn’t contain my frustration. “You know exactly why I’m here,” I snapped. “How could you keep shut when Rowan was making the decision to make Lyra the Luna of this pack, you didn’t speak, a woman who knows nothing about the pack will now lead us. Have you forgotten this pack has been ruled by the Moonstone family for years, is it because my father didn’t give birth to a male child? You have all forgotten his legacy!” I poured out my frustration.

The room grew still, they didn’t flinch, though. They just sat there, their gazes fixed on me, unmoving.

“Your father’s legacy is not forgotten, Elara,” Elder Roslyn spoke then. “But the ritual Rowan performed… It cannot be undone. He is the Alpha now, and Lyra is the one he has chosen.”

I felt my heart crack, the anger swelling inside me until it was all I could feel. “You can’t be serious! Forgotten I was the one who brought him to become the alpha in exchange I will be his Luna?”

“We are bound by tradition, Elara,” Elder Torin said, his voice growing serious. “Rowan is the Alpha, and no one can challenge his choice now. The ritual has been performed.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but the words caught in my throat. It felt like a dream. A nightmare. “So that’s it, then? There’s nothing I can do?”

“There is nothing you can do,” Elder Roslyn repeated, they all look convinced nodding their head at each other.

I stared at them, the anger and disbelief choking me. They knew everything that happened even if Rowan had gone through the ritual he had never met to be the alpha to begin with, I was the one who chose him and now they want to discard me?

I left angrily with the thought of returning to my room, I was so lost in my thoughts that laughter jolted me from my thoughts.

I saw Lyra… she moved closer to me blocking my path, she had a sinister smile on her face, I wanted to ignore her but I found myself talking.

“What do you want, Lyra?”

She tilted her head, a smile curving on her lips. “Oh, Elara, you must have thought that Rowan would never find me or he would let me go, you were such a fool for believing that. Of course, you wouldn’t know what a mate bonding feels like since you never had one.”

I clenched my fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms. I had never hated anyone so much in my life. I tried to walk past her but she blocked me.

“You’re not going anywhere, Elara, are you not ashamed? Throwing tantrums when you don’t get your way.” she sneered

I was tired, I let out a deep breath and some maids approached, gathering us.

“Return to your duties! How dare you circle us!” I roared

“Oh keep calm Elara, I gave them the right,” she said and my eyes widened in shock.

“What?!”

“Yes, Lyra is our Luna now and we only take commands from her,” one of the maids said.

Another maid nodded. “Lyra is the one Alpha Rowan chose. We no longer owe you our loyalty.”

The betrayal stung. I thought these maids were royal they had always treated me special, always found a way to be close to me, and were even jealous when I chose Maera to serve me closely.

“I was sick of pretending that I like you, I don’t and I wish never to see your face again!” One of the maids roared and they all laughed

“I can’t wait for Alpha Rowan to send you out of the pack! We don’t want to see you anymore, she is so spoilt that she thinks the world revolves around her!”

I was once beyond humiliated at this point.

Lyra, watching all of this, smiled even wider. “Rowan told them. He introduced them to me. I am his Luna now, and you, Elara, are nothing but a spoilt brat who thinks she can get everything!”

Before I could stop myself, I landed a slap on her face, she only smiled touching her cheek, and whispered. “You’re pathetic, Elara. I warned you.”

The words barely registered before I heard a loud voice.

“Elara!”

I froze. Rowan.

“What do you think you are doing?” He roared moving closer to us.

“And what does it seem like?” I asked angrily.

“What gave you the permission to slap her? You dare not raise your hand at Lyra!”

I wanted to scream badly and ask him if this was my side he promised to always take whether I was right or wrong, I felt betrayed…

Before I could respond, Rowan was barking orders at the guards behind him. “Take her to the cell.”

“What?” I gasped. “Rowan, no. You can’t…”

The guards moved quickly, grabbing my arms and dragging me toward the dungeons. I struggled but their hold was tighter, as they carried me away I saw the smile on Lyra's face, this was going exactly the way she wanted it.

***

Hours passed in the dark cell, my anger morphing into heartache. I lay on the cold stone floor, my mind racing. How could Rowan have done this? How could he let Lyra manipulate him so easily? I never thought a day like this would come into our lives.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the cell door opening. I looked up to see Rowan standing there, his posture rigid, his eyes cold.

“There’s a party we must attend. The whole pack in the kingdom was invited.”

I scoffed, my voice bitter. “You want me to go with you? After everything?”

He didn’t flinch. “Yes. Lyra is not yet officially the Luna, and you’re the Alpha female. You must accompany me.”

I shook my head, refusing to look at him. “No. You should go with Lyra. After all, she’s the Luna now.”

His eyes narrowed. “Elara, don’t be childish. This is important. We need to go. Are you going to abandon what is necessary for the pack just because of the way you feel? We need to meet with the lycan king regarding some pack business.”

I closed my eyes, letting out a long breath. I had no choice. I had to go. For the pack, for everything I had worked for. “Okay,” I replied and he smiled before he turned to the guards

“Let her go,” he walked out of the dungeon with the guard allowing me to go. I felt too tired and weak, so I decided to take a walk and breathe in the night's fresh air.

Just when I was close to the pack’s border, my wolf Isla stirred within me, alert, restless. Something felt off. I could sense someone but as I looked around I found no one, my wolf became more restless which was concerning and suddenly she screamed “Mate!”

I froze just in place.