Chapter 7 CHAPTER 7

Elara woke to the soft light of morning spilling across her room, her cousins still scattered in blankets on the floor, their breathing slow. For a moment, she simply watched them, Lyra curled protectively against Ana, Kieran sprawled with one arm flung over Arden, who muttered in her sleep. The sight warmed her heart, a reminder of her support system and a reminder of what was important.

The moon’s words from the night before echoed in her mind, Find your own path. Claim it.

She drew in a long breath, feeling something settle inside her. The heaviness was still there, but it no longer suffocated.

Lyra stirred first, blinking sleepily before grinning, her hair sticking up in every direction. “Morning, don’t tell me you’re sneaking off to train already.”

Elara shook her head, smiling faintly. “Not yet. I wanted to be here when you woke up. I’ve missed this… missed you all.”

Ana sat up, her hair tangled. “We’ve missed you, too. You’ve been so distant, Elara. It’s been nice to have a night like we used to.”

Kieran groaned, rubbing his eyes, his voice thick with sleep. “Finally. I was starting to think you’d forgotten how to laugh.” He tossed a leftover sweet at her, grinning when she caught it.

Elara laughed softly, the sound surprising even herself. It felt lighter, freer. “I’m sorry for shutting you out. I thought I had to carry everything alone, but I know I don’t, not with you here.”

“About time you realised that. You’re stronger with us, not without us.” Arden said as she stretched.

Elara’s gaze lingered on them, her chest swelling with affection. “I know. And I promise, I won’t lose myself in all this training. I will still be the best cousin you have ever had.”

Her cousins exchanged glances, relief softening their faces. Lyra leaned closer. “Good. Because whatever path you choose, we’ll walk it with you.”

Elara’s smile deepened, though her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “Thank you. But I need you to know… I’m going to carve my own path. Not the one they’ve written for me. Mine.”

The room fell quiet, her words hanging in the air.

Ana reached for her hand again, squeezing firmly. “Then we’ll remind you of that every day, until you believe it and you do it.”

Elara looked toward the window, the morning sun rising where the moon had stood watch. The warmth touched her face, and for the first time in weeks, she felt a sense of freedom.

The afternoon had rolled around too quickly, and Elara was once again sitting in the office with her parents. Another training session. She sat stiffly, her pen scratching across paper as her parents’ voices filled the room. Saphira’s tone was calm, deliberate, weaving through the finer details of pack disputes with the patience of someone who had carried the weight of leadership for decades. Nikolas leaned back in his chair. His words were clipped, each word carrying authority and expectation.

She tried to absorb every lesson, but the weight of it all gnawed at her.

Finally, Nikolas closed the last file with a sharp snap. He folded his hands, his gaze locking onto her with a seriousness that made her stomach twist. “Elara, there’s something else we need to discuss. We have a couple of potential matches for you in the Matchmaker. You will spend a week with each of them, confined in the apartments for a week, to see if you feel a bond with any of them.”

Elara’s stomach lurched, her breath catching. His words echoed in her mind over and over. She shoved back from the desk, her chair scraping against the floor. “No,” she said, her voice sharp, trembling with fury. “I’m not doing that.”

Nikolas’s brow furrowed, his jaw tightening. “Why not? This is necessary. You’re doing this whether you like it or not. We need a strong leader, and we have decided take over sooner than planned, so this needs to happen now. We have sacrificed and done so much to get you here.”

Her chest constricted, her anger rising. “I know! I know what you’ve done for me. You had to protect your legacy all these years. But that wasn’t my fault, and this isn’t what I want!”

Saphira reached for her, her voice soft, pleading. “Elara, calm down. We were protecting our daughter, that’s all we’ve ever tried to do.”

Elara’s eyes burned, tears threatening but held back by sheer defiance. Her voice shook. “No. You weren’t just protecting me. You were securing your legacy. And I’m not going to be used as a pawn in this anymore.”

Nikolas’s patience snapped. His voice thundered, reverberating through the office walls. “You are my daughter, and you will do as I say. Tomorrow, you will go into the Matchmaker, whether you like it or not.”

The words shattered her. Tears spilled down her cheeks. Her voice broke. “What you’re making me do is no different from what the Elders and the Core did before you took over. The Matchmaker is now meant to represent choice and freedom. Or have you forgotten that?”

The silence that followed was suffocating. Saphira’s lips parted, but no words came. Nikolas’s jaw clenched.

Elara’s hands shook as she turned away. Without another word, she stormed out of the office. She didn’t stop until she reached her room, slamming the door behind her.

Inside, she pressed her back against the wood; her heart was pounding so hard it hurt. The tears came harder now, not just from anger, but from the crushing weight of betrayal.

They speak of protecting me, but all they’ve ever done is control me, and now they are forcing me into a mating, she thought bitterly.

Her legs gave way, and she slid down to the floor, curling her knees to her chest. The moon’s promise from the night before flickered in her mind, Find your own path. Claim it.

Elara buried her face against her arms. For the first time, she knew she had to fight, not against her enemies, but against her own family.

I know what I have to do.