Fifteen
Elira’s POV
I looked around the chamber. Nothing had changed. The things I once took were back in their old places like time froze and waited for me. It was the same room I shared with Lucas… five years ago.M
I blinked. He was gone.
Everything screamed of memories–of love. But love that turned out to be a damn lie.
He thought bringing me back here, to this place, would somehow fix things? That we could go back to what we were?
I let out a hollow laugh. Even my wolf was stunned by his desperation.N
Did he really believe this would make it all okay? That I’d forget what he did?8)
It won’t. Ever.N
The servants came in quietly, helping me undress and prepare like I was still their Luna, I didn’t stop them. It wasn’t their fault.
Eventually, I lay in bed and closed my eyes–only to catch his scent. Faint, but it clung to the pillows. Like he’d been here before I arrived.}}
I laughed again, bitter this time. He did this on purpose. Trying to stir up old emotions.
But no. It didn’t work. It only made me sick.N
I’d never feel anything for him again.N
I stood up and called a servant to change the bedding. I needed rest–without his scent haunting me.
The next morning, I sat across from Lucas at the dining table. Not in the Luna’s seat.M
“Where’s Elder Thomas? I want to see him,” I asked bluntly.N
He paused, fork halfway to his mouth. “After we eat,” he said, watching me carefully.N
“Just tell me where. I can go alone,” I replied, sipping berry wine.N
He set his fork down. “We’ll go together. He’s expecting us.“N
I didn’t argue. He’d insist anyway. And as far as I knew, Elder Thomas wasn’t even in the pack hospital.
Only Lucas knew where he really was.N
After breakfast, we got into the car. He stayed silent the entire ride as we left the territory–until we hit the city.
So this was it. Elder Thomas was here all along. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have come back with Lucas.N
He hid it from me. Maybe to protect him. Or maybe to trap me.N
At the hospital, Lucas opened the door for me, but I walked past him without a word. We reached the private floor guarded by Blackthorn warriors, who still called me Luna.N
Inside, I saw Elder Thomas–pale, thin, awake. His eyes lit up when he saw me.N
“Elira!” he tried to sit up, but I stopped him gently.N
“Please, don’t move. You’re not well,” I whispered.N
He nodded, asking where I’d been, how I was, what happened during those five years. If I was safe.N
I answered everything honestly. He deserved that. Lucas eventually left us alone.N
My eyes blurred with tears when he said, “I’m sorry for what my son did. You didn’t deserve that, Elira. You deserve better. Live your life. however you want.“N
I reached for his hand–cold and fragile–and pressed it to my cheek as tears streamed down.N
“I will, Elder Thomas. Please get better. I want to show you the place I’ve found. You’d love it,” I said with a shaky smile.
“I will, child. I’ll hold on to that,” he replied weakly.
But I could feel it. He was fading. His wolf… barely there.N
Before I left, I gave him my number. He promised to call.N
“I’m glad I saw you again, child,” he whispered.N
Back in the car, Lucas spoke.N
“We’re going somewhere.“N
My wolf whimpered softly. She felt it too–Elder Thomas didn’t have much time left. I prayed he’d visit me… just once… before he passed.N But then something else caught my attention.
We were heading toward Nightshade pack. The closer we got, the more my gut twisted.N
The gates opened.
And dread sank into my bones.
