Lahat ng Kabanata ng Mate Rebound : Kabanata 201 - Kabanata 210

Elara’s POV~The burial ended with a lot of muttered condolences and a very thick and killing silence. A couple of the healers muttered something to me as they each walked passed me with their heads down and their voices low. One of them squeezed my hand gently before whispering something to me about the goddess watching over the little soul. I had tried to nod, but my neck was stiff.The elders, however, said nothing to me. They only paused for perhaps a moment, looking, stone-faced, before shifting away again as if my pain were not something to be considered. Their silence was more painful than any words could have been. It felt as if I was being judged. I felt my mother’s arm squeeze around me. “Pretend like though you don’t see them,” she whispered, as if she could read my mind. “They don’t matter. None of those things matter right now.”While her hand rubbed up and down my back. Without thinking twice, I pressed my body against hers, seeking her warmth. She’d never been like thi

Elara’s POV~When I closed my eyes to sleep that night, it wasn’t the tomb under the Sacred Tree that I immediately thought of. It was Damien.I thought of the way he would have hugged me from behind, silently, with his eyes swollen while saying words he’d never say to me in person. I thought of how it would seem if I could or were to beg him, although not in so many words. But beg him to stay, and not to leave me in that silence. And in those thoughts, I added how he failed me again.It was strange, really. This was the first time since the goddess had cursed or blessed me with life again that I had walked away from him.I tossed that belief around and around in my mind, as though it might shield me. If I couldn’t have his loyalty, I could at least have my pick. I had walked away. But my pride didn’t last long, as I got up and I re-entered the corridors of the house, heading straight to my father's room, where he lay motionless.I opened the door gently, I feared that not be awake

Damien’s POV~The night was very still, cold, and seemed good to have a peaceful night's rest, but I was too restless to sleep.It had been late after everyone had gone to bed by the time I went out for a run, turning into my wolf and allowing the forest to consume me. The biting cold that sliced through my lungs and the solid earth beneath my paws weren't enough to still my thoughts. The sound of her voice continued to chase me, no matter how far I ran. And the sadness in her eyes haunted me.By the time I walked back, my body was drenched in sweat and my chest was aching as if I’d been running for years rather than hours. I walked through the halls with my instincts screaming at me to turn around and go back to my room. To shut the door and to keep to myself.But I stalled as I reached the staircase. My wolf moved, pounding against the inside of my chest. Go to her.I let out a startled breath, scrubbing a hand down my face. “Not now.”She needs us. You felt it. Her sister is break

Damien’s POV~Last night hadn’t cooled me. The run didn't, the blood on my fists didn't either and neither did the silence I’d left in Elara’s room.I rose before dawn, feeling too restless to sit still, and made my way to the training yard in the corner. The evening air was cold with fog covering the land.I squeezed the training sword harder than I needed to. The cuts burned as I flexed my knuckles; my injury from having punched the wall was very much still fresh. I welcomed the pain. It made me aware of the fact that I was not dead.I smacked, hard, into the wooden post in the middle of the yard. Once, to and then over and over again. Splinters popped out, but still it wasn’t enough. My thoughts kept replaying in my head, tearing me to pieces.“Don’t say you’re sorry if you actually aren’t.”I clenched my teeth, slashing once more. “Damn it!”The sword clanged against the wood, rattling my arms and making my shoulders throb. I prayed silently that the exhaustion I would feel would

Elara’s POV~The last couple of days have been filled with darkness for me. I hardly moved from my father’s bedside, except to accompany my mom to the dining hall or go outside to take a breath.I was getting used to the silence in the room, to the dull rhythm of my father’s breathing. My mother remained nearby, though we didn’t talk much, it helped to have her there. I thought back to those good old days, when I sat so close to her and held onto her arm with my chubby little fists, and sometimes held her hand. Back then, when the closet company I had with her was when I sat down with her while she sewed my dresses.But more than anything else that had occurred during these past few days, it was Lyra who surprised me. My sister had been… different. I saw it in the look she gave me, as if everything I said was an insult, and as if my pain were some sort of performance to attract sympathy. It was even worse whenever Damien was around. When she spoke, he would stand next to her, listenin