Chapter 3
“We’re sorry, Luna,” another whispered, backing away. “We were just…”
“It’s fine,” I managed, my voice a hollow rasp. “Just… carry on.” I pushed past them, the sting of their words, their casual dismissal of my pain, a final confirmation of what I already knew.
There was nothing left for me here. No love. No loyalty. No home. I had to leave. I had to take my pup and run. And I would. Silently. Swiftly. Before they could realize the true extent of their betrayal. Before they could take what little I had left.
I continued my preparations, moving with a quiet urgency that belied the turmoil within. The villa’s pantries were overflowing, Kai’s wealth ensuring an abundance of everything, but I took nothing from his stores. This escape, this new life, would be built by my own hands, fueled by my own strength. That afternoon, under the guise of a routine patrol, I ventured into the surrounding forest, gathering medicinal herbs, dried berries, and anything else I could carry. I cached them in a small, hidden den I'd discovered years ago, a secret place now vital to my survival.
As I returned, the scent of cedar and pine, so intimately familiar, so deeply ingrained in my memory, stopped me in my tracks. Kai. He stood at the edge of the clearing, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
“Elara,” he said, accusation lacing his tone. “Where have you been?”
“Walking,” I replied, my voice flat. I brushed past him.
He followed. “Elara,” he repeated, sharper this time. “Don’t ignore me.”
I stopped, turning to face him, the icy chill of the approaching night reflected in my eyes. “What do you want, Kai?”
“I want to know what you’re doing,” he said, his gaze intense. “These patrols… they’re unusual.”
“I’m preparing,” I whispered, “for the dance.”
He frowned. “The dance? What does that have to do with anything?”
“Everything,” I replied, meeting his gaze. “Tonight, everyone will see. They'll see what you’ve chosen. And they’ll see me choose myself.”
He scoffed. "You're being dramatic, Elara. It's just a dance." He paused, then added, with a forced casualness, "Lyra's picked out a beautiful dress. You should see it."
My silence hung heavy between us. He shifted, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly. Then, with a curt nod, he turned and walked away, Lyra's scent clinging to him.
"We'll see you tonight, Elara."
Later, as I sorted the herbs, the lengthening shadows signaled the approach of twilight. The air thrummed with anticipation, the energy of the approaching New Moon Dance palpable even here in the quiet solitude of the gardens. The New Moon Dance. A celebration of renewal, of the pack's enduring strength, a ritual passed down through generations. A dance where the Luna, bathed in the nascent moonlight, would bless the pack, ensuring its prosperity for the coming cycle.
Kai’s shadow fell over me once more. Lyra’s cloying scent arrived first. I didn’t look up.
"Still at it?" he asked, his voice tight. "The dance is about to begin. Shouldn't you be getting ready?"
"I am ready," I replied coolly, continuing to sort the herbs.
Lyra giggled. "Oh, Elara, you're always so serious. Is that what you're wearing? It looks a little… drab for the occasion, don't you think?" She smoothed down the shimmering fabric of her own gown, her eyes glinting with malicious amusement.
"Perhaps you should borrow something of mine? I have several dresses that would… fit you much better now." The pointed glance at my slightly swollen belly was a deliberate jab, a cruel reminder of the child I carried, a child that used to be Kai's heir.
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