chapter Five

Elara’s breath caught in her throat as the tension in the dining hall grew unbearable. Alpha Kaelen’s cold, piercing gaze pinned her to the spot, a predator assessing its prey. Across the table, Mara toyed with her goblet, her sharp features drawn in a scowl, while Lyria leaned back with an insufferable smirk.

“Enough,” Kaelen commanded, his voice a steel blade cutting through the murmurs. The hall fell silent, all eyes on him. His gaze swept over Mara and Lyria. “Leave us. Now.”

Mara stiffened, her lips parting in protest, but the unyielding flicker in Kaelen’s eyes silenced her. She stood, her chair scraping harshly against the stone floor. With an exaggerated huff, she stormed out of the hall. Lyria hesitated, her sly smirk faltering as her eyes darted between Kaelen and Elara. Then, with a low bow, she departed, her narrowed gaze promising retribution.

As the overwhelming entryways moaned closed, Elara found herself alone with Kaelen. He inclined back in his chair, his fingers drumming an uneven cadence on the table.

“You've developed boldness,” he commented, his tone misleadingly calm but bound with peril.

Elara straightened, willing her voice not to waver. “Boldness is required when the truth is ignored.”

Kaelen’s eyes darkened, amusement tugging at the corner of his mouth. “And you think you’re the voice of truth?”

She met his gaze head-on, the spark of defiance in her chest burning brighter. “Your people are suffering while your wives wage petty battles for power. Someone needs to speak for them.”

Before he could respond, the doors flew open with a resounding crash. A warrior staggered inside, bloodied and breathless.

“Alpha!” he gasped, clutching his side. “The rogues—they’ve breached the eastern border! Villages are under attack.”

Kaelen was on his feet instantly, his calm façade cracking to reveal the ruthless Alpha beneath. “How many?”

“Two dozen at least. Armed. They’re moving fast.”

Elara’s heart pounded. She had heard of rogue raids—merciless assaults that left nothing but ruin. Fear clawed at her, but beneath it was something stronger: a fierce determination to act.

“Summon the warriors,” Kaelen ordered sharply. “Hold them at the border until I arrive.”

The guard nodded and staggered out. Kaelen turned to Elara, his expression carved from stone. “Stay here.”

“No,” she replied, surprising herself with the firmness of her voice.

Kaelen’s brow furrowed, but she continued. “They’re attacking our people. You want me to be a Luna? Then let me fight like one.”

His jaw tightened, his gaze searching hers. Finally, he exhaled sharply. “Stay close to me. If you die, it’s your fault, not mine.”

The ride to the eastern border was a blur of cold wind, pounding hooves, and a growing sense of dread. The scent of smoke reached them before the flicker of flames lit the horizon. Villagers ran screaming through the streets, their homes engulfed in fire.

Kaelen dismounted first, barking orders to his warriors. “Protect the villagers! Drive the rogues back!”

Elara slid off her horse, her legs trembling but steady. She refused to let fear root her in place. The sharp clang of steel filled the air as Kaelen’s warriors engaged the attackers.

“Elara, stay back,” Kaelen commanded, his sword already cutting through a rogue.

She ignored him, scooping a fallen dagger from the ground. “I’m not a child to be shielded!”

A rogue lunged at her, his eyes wild and teeth bared. Instinct took over. She dodged his swing and drove the dagger into his side. Blood spilled over her hands, the metallic tang filling her nose. She stumbled back, gasping for breath.

Another rogue advanced, a twisted grin on his face. Elara braced herself, but Kaelen appeared in a blur of motion, cutting the man down with a single stroke.

“I told you to stay back!” he snarled, his voice thick with fury.

“And I told you I wouldn’t!” she shot back, her chest heaving.

Kaelen’s glare softened, but only for a moment. The battle raged on, but the tide was shifting. The rogues, sensing defeat, began to retreat into the forest.

When the last of them disappeared, Kaelen lowered his bloodied blade. The village lay in ruins, but the surviving villagers gathered, their faces etched with a mix of terror and relief.

“You fought well,” Kaelen murmured to Elara, his voice low.

She glanced at her bloodstained hands, the weight of what she’d done pressing down on her. “I did what was necessary.”

Kaelen stepped closer, his hand brushing hers. “You’re stronger than I thought.”

Before she could respond, a warrior’s shout rang out from the edge of the village.

“Alpha! Over here!”

Kaelen’s expression darkened as he strode toward the commotion. Elara followed, dread curling in her stomach.

A small crowd of warriors surrounded something on the ground. As they parted, Elara’s breath caught. A young woman lay motionless, her body battered and bloodied.

It was one of the maids from the castle, a sweet girl who had always greeted Elara with a smile. Now, her lifeless eyes stared at the sky, her lips frozen in a silent scream.

Kaelen knelt beside her, his fists clenched. “This wasn’t a raid,” he said, his voice a low growl. “It was a message.”

Elara swallowed hard. “From who?”

Kaelen’s gaze lifted to the shadowy forest. His jaw tightened, his voice like ice. “The rival Alpha.”

The ride back to the castle was silent, the weight of the night pressing down on them like a heavy shroud. Kaelen disappeared into his chambers without a word, his simmering rage palpable.

Elara lingered in the hallway, her thoughts racing. The attack had been more than a show of strength. It was a declaration of war, one that threatened to engulf them all.

As she turned to head to her room, a shadow moved at the edge of her vision. She froze, her pulse quickening. “Who’s there?”

The silence stretched before a figure stepped into the light.

“” Chris she whispered, her voice a mixture of relief and confusion.

He moved closer, his face drawn with urgency. “We need to talk.”