Chapter 334
Chapter 334
17 – Elara
Today, he was completely vulnerable around me-bare and open in a way that made my heart race. He treated me with a tenderness I hadn’t expected, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I caught him smiling at me. That smile ignited something fierce inside me. Now, as his fingers entwine with mine, the electric charge between us feels almost tangible, like sparks flying in the air. This can’t be good. My defenses against him are crumbling faster than I ever imagined possible. He’s been playing his role perfectly, almost like my dad’s men should take notes on how it’s done. He’s been shuttling between his own pack, mine, and Junior’s, a constant presence in all our worlds. At first, I welcomed the distance-it gave me space to remind myself I didn’t need him. But by the time the second round of sharing him with others came around, my wolf inside me rebelled. She had enough, and before I even realized what was happening, I found myself begging to go with them to Red Fang. Then, earlier today, I pulled my little mate stunt, catching him completely off guard-justified, of course—but now I know he’s plotting his payback. The question is: how much longer can I hold out? My wolf has abandoned me, celebrating wildly in my mind that he made the first move and took my hand.
He leads me into a dimly lit room; the only light comes from a single bedside lamp casting a soft, warm glow. “I hope this is alright. I know new mates prefer their privacy,” Luna Sam says with a knowing smile. My throat tightens, words disappearing before they can escape.
“This is perfect, thank you, Luna Sam,” I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper.
The door clicks shut behind us, and suddenly Ben pulls his hand away like it’s burning. I’m left standing awkwardly in the middle of the room, caught between the heat radiating from him and the invisible barrier I know I can’t cross-not until this whole mess is resolved.
“I’m going to shower. Luna Sam left some clothes for us,” he says, and just like that, he’s gone, taking his warmth with him.
“Get a grip, Elara,” I murmur to myself, shaking my head as I move toward the bed where the clothes are neatly folded.
Suddenly, a voice shatters the fragile calm.
“Elara! Your mother’s been attacked p>
“Dad?! What happened?” Panic surges through me like a tidal wave. Thɪs chapter is updated by.net
“She was out checking on some of the younger families before the storm hit. She came home fine, but then she started convulsing. The healer is with her now p>
“I’m coming!” I say, heart pounding.
“No! Your mother would be worse off if she knew you were traveling in this weather. Wait it out. She’s stable for now. There’s nothing you can do yet p>
Warm hands grasp my shoulders, grounding me. “What’s wrong? I can feel your panic from across the room p>
Without thinking, I slump forward, resting my head on his shoulder. For the first time in what feels like ages, a tear slips down my cheek. “My mother was attacked. Dad said she was checking on people before the storm, came back fine, then started convulsing,” I whisper into his shoulder, noticing the goosebumps rising on his skin. “What makes your dad think she was attacked?” he asks gently.
“I’m not sure. That’s just what he said p>
“Ask him p>
I pull out my phone and call, “Dad… Why do you think Mom was attacked? If she was fine when she came home, wouldn’t that suggest something else p>
“We’ve been tracking everything for a while. Austin’s attack confirmed my suspicion that someone’s trying to scare us. There are a lot of theories, but the healers found high doses of wolfsbane mixed with other chemicals in her blood. She’s unconscious, so we don’t know if she ate or drank anything while she was out, but that’s our best guess. We’ll have more answers once she wakes.” “Thanks, Dad p>
“I know Ben’s there with you, but keep him close. I don’t trust anyone else p>
“We have Jax and Dev too p>
“Keep an eye on them. They’re like brothers to you, and I know they’re supposed to protect you, but if someone got to your mother, they could be vulnerable too p>
“Hey… talk to me. What’s he saying?” Ben asks softly.
I share everything my dad told me, including the part about keeping Ben close. It stings my pride a little, but I understand. Pride won’t save me if I’m careless. I say all this while nestled against Ben’s neck. He had just stepped out of the shower, wrapped only in a towel, but right now, my swirling emotions leave no room for anything else.
“Link Dev and Jax. Give them a heads up. We need to speak with Luna Sam. I don’t think she or Junior are behind this, but they might be victims too. Whoever ‘they’ are, it seems they want access to the water. Your packs border it almost entirely on this side. Another problem is the two-mile stretch of forest west of your lands-that’s neutral territory. We need a way to investigate without causing a scene p>