Chapter 2

Elara

I turned my back on the laughing guards and walked away. I didn't feel an ounce of regret as they stared after me in shock.

Back at the packhouse, I ripped off the heavy, suffocating formal gown.

The whole pack knew my pathetic history. I used to do everything for Kaelen, blindly obedient to my future Alpha despite his constant disgust. When it came to him, I used to anticipate his every move and handle everything flawlessly.

He used to complain about the crushing weight of his upcoming Alpha duties and wanting to escape it all. Hoping to please him, I had spent weeks arranging a private retreat to the Silver Peaks Sanctuary, simply because he once mentioned he missed the peaceful redwood forests there.

But Kaelen rejected my idea. Instead, he took Serena camping at the dangerous northern borders, and ordered me to tag along just to carry their heavy gear.

During a heavy thunderstorm, Kaelen forced me back out into the woods to find a cheap bracelet Serena claimed she dropped. My weak, wolfless body slipped down a muddy ravine, shattering my leg. I spent two whole months locked in the pack clinic after that, completely ignored by everyone.

I refused to live through that suffocating hell again. Leaving Kaelen's territory was step one.

I shoved my few clothes and books into a duffel bag and hurried down the stairs. Coincidentally, Kaelen strode through the front double doors.

His golden eyes narrowed when they landed on me. He let out a mocking snort, easily snatching the bag from my grip and tossing it across the hall.

I stepped back, my expression completely cold. "What are you doing?"

"I should be asking you that, Elara," he sneered, crossing his muscular arms. "Aren't we a little old to be playing the runaway mate? What's the grand plan this time? Gonna run off into the woods and end it all?"

Kaelen scoffed in disgust. "Grow the hell up. Are you seriously trying to pull the suicide card on me again?"

I calmly walked over, picked up my bag, and dusted it off. Looking him dead in the eye, I spoke slowly. "Who told you I was going to kill myself?"

Heartless monsters like Kaelen and Serena got to live perfect lives. The Moon Goddess finally gave me a second chance. Why the hell would I waste it by dying for him?

Kaelen just snickered, his eyes filled with absolute disdain.

Right then, Serena stepped out from behind his broad frame. "Elara, you know you can just ask Kaelen nicely if you want to join the ceremony."

She tilted her head, acting innocent. "You two grew up together under the same roof. He won't say no to you. But pulling the suicide stunt once was enough—nobody is gonna buy it a second time."

Her calculated words hit the mark perfectly. The disgust in Kaelen's eyes deepened.

A memory flashed through my mind. Years ago, when Kaelen and Serena first started sneaking around, he began treating me like a disease. In a moment of absolute despair, I had run to the raging river, sending a panicked mind-link that I was going to jump.

It scared Hubert and Fiona so badly that they forced Kaelen to cut ties with Serena. Since that day, Kaelen's hatred for me became permanent. He cut me off completely. He let Serena's friends use their wolf strength to ostracize and bully me, turning a blind eye to my bruises.

Staring straight at Kaelen, I kept my voice deadpan. "You're overthinking this. Dying never even crossed my mind. I packed my bags because I'm heading out to the Silver Peaks Sanctuary."

Kaelen let out a barking laugh, clearly thinking I was just making up a pathetic excuse to save face.

Serena gently tugged at his sleeve. "Kaelen, just let Elara come to the ceremony with us. She looks so pitiful."

Kaelen frowned. His wolf seemed ready to grant the "generous" favor, but I shut it down immediately.

"No thanks. I'm going to Silver Peaks."

Kaelen stiffened, before scoffing loudly. "Did you hear that? The little wolfless girl thinks she can survive out in the Sanctuary all by herself."

"Elara, stop throwing a tantrum at a time like this," Serena sighed, stepping forward to hug my arm.

Her sharp claws extended just enough to dig deep into my flesh where Kaelen couldn't see. The sudden, piercing pain made me violently shove her away.

Serena dramatically stumbled and fell to the floor. She clenched her palms, looking up at me with fake disbelief as her lips trembled. "Elara, how could you—"