Chapter 396
Chapter 396
56 – Elara
Weeks have slipped by in a relentless blur of work, each day blending into the next without pause. Now, in a rare moment of solitude, I sit at my desk, eyes fixed on the map before me. The surface is dotted with new shadow marker locations we’ve recently uncovered, each one a grim reminder of the dangers lurking just beyond our reach.
A heavy sigh escapes me, laden with frustration. We’ve dismantled at least a dozen of these cursed markers, yet they keep appearing like an endless tide. Within our pack, only Ben seems to bear the brunt of their influence. I wonder if it’s something about his age, or perhaps the fact that this isn’t his original pack, or maybe an entirely different reason altogether. But we can’t afford to wait idly for his birthdays to pass just to test these theories.
I know it frustrates him deeply—that helpless feeling of being a liability when he wants nothing more than to protect us. To compensate, he’s taken on other responsibilities within the pack. He’s implemented a rigorous training program for all our teenagers, now mandatory for everyone. On the surface, it’s about teaching them self-defense; beneath that, Ben’s real motive is to observe the youngsters most affected by this silent assault on our pack. He watches closely, hoping to detect any shifts in their personalities or, worse, if some vanish altogether.
In addition, he’s begun working alongside Sebastian and Richard. They’ve been released from house arrest and now assist with training within the pack. Despite their involvement, I still struggle to trust them completely. I’m not ready to send them out on patrol or let them work directly with me. The wound of betrayal runs too deep. Their failure to foresee the threats against the Alpha and Luna cost my parents their lives. While I know logically it wasn’t entirely their fault, emotionally it feels like it was. Ben understands this too, but he also knows sitting idle isn’t an option. So, ever the dutiful Beta, he’s taken them under his wing, filling every waking moment with purpose, trying to make up for his inability to shield me from this magic.
If I were in his position, I might feel the same way. Yet, I can’t deny that I appreciate the distance between us right now. I find I’m able to focus more clearly when he isn’t hovering nearby. The only problem—one I’d never admit aloud—is that I suspect we’d solve these problems faster if he were here with me. I’m learning from Brianna and Marietta, but progress feels slow, almost sluggish. My mind sharpens when he’s around, and I hate the contradiction that stirs inside me.
We’ve settled into an unspoken agreement: maintain just enough distance to honor our human comfort zones, but stay close enough for our wolves to keep a quiet connection. It’s the best compromise I can manage at the moment. My pack depends on me, and I need to figure this part out on my own. I have to prove that the Alpha blood coursing through my veins is enough—that I don’t need a male by my side to protect and lead them.
I don’t want to reject Ben. That truth settled in my heart long ago. What I do resist is the idea of his brooding self swooping in like a white knight to rescue me from every problem.
The sudden creak of my door pulling open drags me from my tangled thoughts. “Ben?” I call out, surprised but not entirely displeased. Updates are released by
He steps inside, eyes wide, breathing uneven. “You weren’t answering. I thought something might be wrong p>
“Nope!” I reply, my voice higher than I intended, betraying my calm facade. “Just going over all this,” I gesture toward the map. “We’ve been at it for way too long, and it feels like there’s no end in sight.” I rub my hands over my face, exhaustion weighing heavy. “Did you need something p>
He blinks, shaking his head as if trying to clear a fog. I notice he’s more distracted than usual, and I silently wonder what’s on his mind. “I want to take Sebastian and Richard to Red Fang. It’s been nearly a month since I checked in with Junior. I think it’s smart to send a few coven members to search for shadow markers there as well. We need to confirm whether his pack is being targeted, and figure out how far the Ember and Ash covens’ influence reaches. Otherwise, this nightmare will never end p>
I nod, having had the same thought myself. We haven’t heard much from Malcolm Junior lately, and I assumed he was settling into his role and didn’t require our help. Maybe he hasn’t reached out because Ben has always been his point of contact. I must have taken too long to respond, because Ben quickly adds more details.
“All the training sessions are covered, so they’ll continue while I’m gone. The pack is in a good place right now. Every business owner has what they need, and the coven is bringing in new, beneficial ventures. Coven members have started working alongside pack members, and the relationships are healthy and strong. Since it looks like they’ll be here for the foreseeable future, I’ve begun discussions with builders about plans for a more permanent setup for them. Preliminary designs are being drawn up now for you to review p>
Of course, he has everything under control. A flicker of irritation flares inside me— why hadn’t I done this already? But the truth is, I simply haven’t had the time. My focus has been on defending the pack from this magical assault, and honestly, I can’t do both. My wolf admires his thoughtfulness; I suspect he’s just bored and avoiding me.
“Elara?” Ben steps closer to my desk, breaking through my reverie.
“Uh, yeah, sorry. I’m just tired. This magic stuff is draining.” I manage a small smile. “Sounds good. When do you plan to leave p>
“We’re aiming to go tomorrow, but if you need us to stay p>
“No! Everything’s stable here. We seem to have reached a status quo. Go check in with Junior and report back. Talk to Marietta and Brianna; they can pair you with the right people to track any magic in Junior’s pack quickly.” He nods and moves toward the door.
Before he leaves, I blurt out, “Just… check in every day.” His eyes snap to mine, surprised by my sudden vulnerability. I don’t know why I said it, and now I can’t take it back or pretend I didn’t. To spare me from sounding needy, he simply nods again and exits.
I lean forward on my desk, resting on my forearms. What is wrong with me? He’s not leaving for good, and probably won’t be gone more than a couple of days. Still, the phrase echoes in my mind—’check in every day’—a soft, girlish whine repeating over and over. Great. Now I’m mocking myself too.
I push back from the desk and decide to go for a run. Maybe I can find Jax or Dev to spar with. I need a physical challenge to shake off this restless feeling. I’m such a dumbass.