Elvira
I had never felt water this warm before. It soaked into my skin, easing the knots in my muscles, washing away the filth of what felt like months of suffering. My bruise mark stung a little as I scrubbed myself raw, but I didn’t stop until the water ran murky and my skin was clean. Stepping out, I wrapped a towel around myself and walked back into the bedroom. A fresh tunic and trousers were waiting for me. I dressed quickly, my damp hair sticking to the back of my neck, and I turned to the plate of food left on the small wooden table. I hadn’t realized how starving I was until I took the first bite. The flavors were rich, too good. I ate quickly, barely chewing, forcing myself to finish everything. ‘Eat when you can. You never know when the next meal will come.’ I’d learned that rule long ago. By the time I finished, my stomach ached from how fast I’d eaten, and exhaustion settled deep in my bones. I hesitated before moving toward the bed. It was soft, too foreign. I had never laid in one before. But I was too tired to care. The moment my head hit the pillow, darkness swallowed me whole. — It started with the sound of rushing water. The river seized me, swallowing me whole. I tried to breathe, but my lungs burned, my body heavy from the weight of my own blood. My shoulder throbbed. An arrow buried deep in my knee, and when I reached for it, I felt something wet and warm. My blood. I wasn’t alone. Laughter echoed through the trees. “Poor sister,” Elyra’s voice cooed. “It’s over now.” I tried to scream, but the river pulled me under again, silencing me. Then, another voice. Deep, pained, regretful. “I’m sorry, Elvira.” Deric. He stood at the edge of the river, his golden eyes shadowed with something unreadable. “Deric—” My voice broke. He raised the knife—and drove it straight into my chest. — I woke up gasping. Cold sweat clung to my skin, my breath rugged and uneven. My chest aches like something had been ripped away, and my throat burned like I’d swallowed fire. The river was gone. The suffocating cold melted into warmth, heavy blankets draped over me. The scent of cedarwood and something darkly masculine filled the air. The room was dimly lit, shadows leaning against the walls. I wasn’t alone. Then a voice, deep and comforting, startled me. “It’s okay. You’re safe. I’m here now.” The words pulled me back to reality, but my body was still trapped in panic. I couldn't breathe. My fingers trembled as I clawed at the sheets, trying to ground myself. I jerked my head toward the voice, my vision swimming. Alpha Jaxon’s Silver eyes locked onto mine. He sat beside the bed, his broad frame casting a shadow over me. His dark hair was slightly disheveled, like he’d been here a while. His jaw was set, unreadable, but his eyes… there was something in them. Something I didn’t understand. Concern? Definitely not. I tried to sit up, but the room tilted violently. My stomach twisted. I barely bit back the urge to retch. “Easy.” His hands were on me before I could collapse, gripping my shoulders firmly but not harshly. His touch was warm. Soft. I flinched, my body betraying me. I didn’t want to be touched. Couldn’t stand being touched. I swallowed hard, confusion swirling in my chest. Why was he helping me? Alpha Jaxon seemed to notice. He let go immediately, but his silver gaze never left me. “Doctor.” His voice was sharp, like a command. I blinked, remembering that we weren’t alone. Four figures stood near the far wall. Two warriors, stiff and expressionless. A woman in healer’s robes stepped forward. Her scent marked her as the pack doctor. She hesitated, glancing at Alpha Jaxon. “Alpha—” “Check her,” he ordered. I stiffened as the doctor approached, her fingers cool and professional as she pressed against my wrist, my temple. She checked my pulse, the healing wounds on my skin, the bruises that already healed but left a mark. Alpha Jaxon sat unnervingly still, watching her every movement. I swallowed. My mind was a mess, I couldn’t process how I was feeling. The doctor finished her assessment and turned back to him. “She’s stable. Just exhausted. Her body is still recovering from the trauma, but she’ll heal.” Alpha Jaxon gave a sharp nod. “Leave us.” The doctor hesitated. “Alpha—” “Now.” She lowered her head and left, the warriors following behind her. The door shut with a heavy thud, and suddenly, it was just me and him. Heavy silence followed. I shifted under the weight of it, my heart pounding. Alpha Jaxon studied me for a long moment before speaking. “Are you okay?” He asked, his tone softer than usual. I nodded absentmindedly. “What’s your name?” I hesitated. Something in his tone wasn’t demanding. It was gentle, but firm. He wanted an answer. “Elvira.” My voice cracked from disuse. Alpha Jaxon nodded like he’d expected it. He leaned back slightly in his chair, but he didn’t relax. I stiffened. My pulse hammered in my ears. What’s next? Throw me out? Long silence stretched between us, the warriors chants below shattered it. I flinched. Alpha Jaxon moved, my body coiled on instinct, like a wounded animal backed into a corner. His hand moved toward my forehead—slow but steady. I jerked away, a muscle in his jaw twitched. Then, he exhaled, his voice calm but firm. "Relax. I just need to check something." Relax? How could I? His fingers wrapped gently around my wrist instead, pressing two fingers against my pulse. A shiver ran through me. Not from cold, but from something else. The second his skin touched mine, I felt beneath it. A glow. Faint, but there. A silver thread curled beneath my skin where he touched. Alpha Jaxon stilled. His grip on my wrist tightened for half a second before he let go, drawing back like he’d touched fire. His face gave away nothing, but his demeanor had changed. I swallowed hard. "What...what was that?" My voice came out quieter than I wanted. Alpha Jaxon didn’t answer right away. His gaze lingered on my wrist, then on me. I tried to move back, but there was nowhere to go. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, his voice grew softer, he changed the topic. “You were screaming in your sleep.” I swallowed, my throat still raw. “It was just a dream.” Alpha Jaxon didn’t look convinced. His silver eyes blinked in the dim light, studying me too closely. “You’re from Bloodmoon.” He said, his tone clipped. How did he—? It didn’t sound like a question. Every muscle in my body went rigid. My pulse pounded so loudly I thought he might hear. He leaned in, his gaze sharpening. “Who did this to you?” I opened my mouth, then stopped. Something in the way he asked made my blood turn cold. His tone wasn’t soft. It wasn’t comforting. Like he wasn’t asking out of curiosity, but to confirm a suspicion. My heartbeat thundered in my ears. Alpha Jaxon exhaled slowly, dragging his fingers through his hair. He looked almost…frustrated. And it was because of me. “Get some rest, Elvira. We’ll talk when you’re stronger.”JaxonThe echo of my boots against the polished wooden stairs broke the evening silence as I descended into the main hall. The moon streaming in through the wide windows painted soft lines across the floor, but I barely noticed. My gaze had already found Ronan standing by the corner, speaking in low tones with Kara.Their heads were close. Kara’s expression looked tight, a little too serious for gossip. Ronan's shoulders were drawn, and the moment I stepped off the last stair, Kara’s eyes widened.She bowed quickly and made herself scarce.Something was definitely off.I strode toward Ronan, keeping my steps slow but purposeful. "What’s going on?"Ronan hesitated—never a good sign. His usually sharp tongue now caught in his throat, eyes darting to the side.“Ronan?” I said more firmly.He straightened. “Alpha Jaxon… we just received a message from Alpha Deric.”My body tensed involuntarily at the name. “And?”He exchanged a glance with Kara, who had just entered the hall. I crossed my
JaxonThe moment I left the courtyard, my chest tightened like a knot. I couldn’t ignore it any longer. That silver glow on her hand… it wasn’t just light catching her skin. I saw it. I felt something in my core shift when I touched her. No ordinary wolf radiates magic like that—especially not from Bloodmoon.I waited until the moon slipped halfway across the sky before I called in the oldest member of the healer’s guild—Elder Kael. He walked into my private chamber with a limp in his left knee and that perpetual squint in his eye, but his senses were still sharp.“What troubles you at this hour, Alpha?” he asked, bowing slightly.I folded my arms behind my back. “I need answers… and complete discretion.”Kael raised a brow. “You have it.”I didn’t waste time. “What do you know about a silver glow appearing when physical contact is made? Not from pain, not from shift. Just… a light. Like power coming to the surface.”The old man froze. For a moment, I thought he hadn’t heard me, but
Elvira I kept pacing the room, my bare feet dragging across the wooden floor. My thoughts were like a storm that wouldn’t stop. “Spy?” I muttered to myself again, gripping the edge of the dresser for balance. “He really sees me as a spy?” My hands trembled as I pressed them against my temples, willing the panic to stop. This wasn’t just some stupid misunderstanding—this was dangerous. If Alpha Jaxon believed I was a traitor, there was no telling what would come next. “Someone’s setting me up,” I whispered to the silence. “Someone’s feeding him lies.” “I need to leave. I need to leave before it's too late,” I whispered to no one. But where would I go? Back to Bloodmoon? My stepbrothers would kill me before I crossed the border. And if I stayed here, with a pack that already looked at me with suspicion, I wouldn’t last either. I had no one. I rushed toward the bed, pulling at the blanket, searching for something, only to remember: I had come here with nothing. No bag. No c
JaxonShe’s right.Maybe I shouldn’t have brought her here. But I couldn’t leave her out there—half-dead, bruised, and bleeding, for rogues to devour. Whatever she is, she didn’t deserve to die like that.I sat on the chair across from her. Her gaze met mine for a split second, then darted away like a frightened animal. That same caution was in her every move.“Elvira,” I called softly.Her head rose, lips parted slightly. Her eyes, deep, cautious, told me she expected nothing good from this conversation.“Now tell me,” I said, steadying my voice. “What happened to you? Who did this to you?”She didn’t answer. Her silence was like a wall. I studied her, every twitch of her brow, every shift of her hands. She wasn’t just scared. She was protecting something. Or someone.“Whoever did this to you doesn’t have power in my pack,” I said firmly. “If that’s what you’re worried about.”Still nothing. Her eyes moved down to her lap, where her fingers twisted together.“If you tell me the truth
ElviraAs soon as the door shut behind him, I rose from the bed like a ghost rising from still waters. I crept forward, my bare feet silent against the wooden floor. Slowly, I opened the door just wide enough to peek down the stairs.He was still there.Alpha Jaxon’s frame looked heavy with thought as he descended each step, his broad shoulders tight, his movements calm but unreadable. When his form finally disappeared around the bend, I let the door fall shut behind me and rested my forehead against the cool wood.Breathe, Elvira.I turned to the bed and sat on the edge, fingers brushing the bandages on my leg. I gently peeled back the corner, only to find the wound still red, still raw. Why wasn’t it healing? My kind healed in hours—even faster with the Alpha blood in our veins. Something was wrong.Then it clicked. The wolfs-oat…..A sacred herb, Mother Felen had said. Part of the BloodMoon bonding ritual. “Drink it without question,” she’d warned me. “Disobedience will bring shame
Jaxon I stormed through the eastern chamber, footsteps heavy with the weight of anger rising through my chest. I didn’t knock. I couldn’t wait. I shoved Ronan’s chamber door open.He was shirtless, halfway through lacing up his boots, clearly preparing for bed, or something less useful.Ronan’s eyes snapped to mine. “Alpha Jaxon?” His tone shifted from casual to concerned. “What’s wrong?”“We’re moving. Now,” I barked. “We head to Wolfspring tonight.”He blinked. “What? Tonight? Are you even listening to yourself? It’s nearly 9—”“I’m not repeating myself.”Ronan moved to the hallway, dragging the door shut behind him. “We didn’t notify Deric. He might not even be there.”“I don’t care,” I replied, voice low but loaded with threat. “You said she could be a spy, Ronan. If that’s true, then she’s dangerous. If it’s false, then someone’s lying about her, and she’s still in my house.”He blew out a breath. “So we can’t wait till morning?”I stepped closer. “If something happens to her t
Jaxon“So,” Deric started, avoiding my gaze, “Queen Felen told me that I had been receiving letters from the wrong girl all along.”I leaned forward slowly. “The wrong girl?”He nodded. “She said Elvira had been stealing Elyra’s letters—Elvira’s younger sister. That she’d been replying me, pretending to be her. Queen Felen swore she caught her sneaking into Elyra’s room countless times. She said Elvira ran away the day before the bonding ceremony because she didn’t want to get caught.”A long silence passed. I didn’t blink.“And you believed that story?”Deric shrugged, looking vaguely uncomfortable for the first time since the conversation started. “Her mother seemed certain. She told me Elvira’s always been a little… cunny. She said she used to hide Elyra’s shoes, shred her gowns, burn her letters, things like that. And when she found out Elyra had a mate match—me—she went too far.”I tapped my fingers on the table slowly. My heart was pumping hard, but I kept my voice low. “And you
ElviraThe silence in the room was supposed to make me relax but I couldn’t. I ignored the thoughts playing in my head and stepped into the shower. Warm water poured over me, washing off the remnants of sleeplessness and confusion. I needed this—silence, water, time alone. I stepped out of the bathroom—and nearly screamed.“Brielle!” I gasped, clutching the face towel tighter against my chest. She stood a few steps away, blinking at me with an amused smile. “The door wasn’t locked?”“I… I must’ve forgotten when she left last night,” I whispered to myself.My heart skipped at the thought. What if it hadn’t been Brielle? What if it had been one of the brothers? Or worse… Alpha Jaxon?A wave of goosebumps ran over my arms. The mere thought made me shudder.Brielle turned her gaze respectfully toward the mirror and started brushing back her sliver curls, pretending she hadn’t seen a thing. That didn’t help my embarrassment. I had never stood naked in front of anyone before—ever. It was a
Jaxon POVThe morning broke slowly. I hadn’t slept, not a wink. Not after dragging Elvira back from the forest, not after watching the way Kairo looked at her, like she was already his. Like he’d won. Like he’d taken something from me I hadn’t even admitted I wanted.I was pacing my office, jaw tight, heart pounding. Every breath I took only made the pressure in my chest worse. It wasn’t just the council summons that had me on edge, it was the look in Elvira’s eyes when I brought her back last night. That shattered look of hurt and betrayal, like I was the last person she wanted to see. Like I'd failed her.Then came the knock on my door.“Come in”Talon entered after. “They know,” he said simply, closing the door behind him.I turned, my fingers curling into fists. “Already?Who?”“The council,” he replied grimly. “Word spread faster this morning, all most everyone is talking about it. They know she’s the girl from Bloodmoon.”I ran my hand through my hair, cursing under my breath. “H
Jaxon POVI’ve faced wars and betrayals, but nothing—nothing—has ever sent dread crawling up my spine like the realization that Elvira was missing.The air was cold that morning, clouded with fog, and yet the emptiness in her room made everything feel ten degrees colder. Her scent still lingered faintly on the sheets, floral and soft, but there was no sign of her. Her bathroom was empty. Her towel lay discarded on the floor like she’d left in a rush.“Elvira?” I called again, louder this time. Silence.I stormed down the hallway, passing the guards without acknowledging their bows. I checked the courtyard, the inner garden, even the training grounds. Nowhere. Not even a footprint.Where the hell was she?A knot formed in my stomach, tightening with every second. I wasn’t even sure how she became this important, when her absence felt like a physical ache, but now that she was gone, all I wanted was to find her.I rounded the corner to Brielle’s quarters and knocked once before swingin
Elvira POVThe cold night air bit into my skin as I stumbled through the forest, barely aware of my surroundings. My thin robe clung to my damp body, and the chill wasn’t just from the temperature, it was from inside me, from the raw ache pounding at my chest. Each breath I took came out in puffs of fog, but I couldn’t bring myself to care.This was the right thing. The only way.Celina’s words still echoed in my ears like a curse I couldn’t shake off. That truth hit harder than any slap. I wasn’t even angry at him—just... broken. I had fought so hard to be strong, to stay despite everything, just for the hope of a proper conversation with him. Not even affection. Just understanding and clarity. But I never got that. Instead, I got whispered accusations, slammed doors, and now this final blow.I just wanted to disappear. Maybe that’s why I didn’t care that I was barefoot, freezing, and lost.Leaves crackled beneath my feet, twigs scratching at my ankles like claws. A wind howled throu
Elvira POVI woke up to the same unease that had settled over me the past few days, a feeling I couldn’t shake. My mind kept drifting back to Kairo’s words—the ones that had left a deep, aching knot in my chest. The words echoed in my mind. I had no doubts about his sincerity, but I couldn’t deny the deep confusion that sticked to me like a plague.Should I allow him to claim me? He was kind, calm, and direct. I wanted to be close to him, he made me feel eased, but I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that step. With Kairo, everything felt different, but... I wasn’t sure if it felt right.I stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom, drying my damp hair with a towel. The soft clink of the wind chimes outside the window did nothing to calm my mind, and as I continued drying my hair, I let out a shaky breath, hoping the morning would bring some clarity. I closed my eyes for a moment, my thoughts lingering on Kairo again. How easy it would be to surrender to him. But was it the right thing
Jaxon POVAfter the maid left my chambers, I sat still, barely blinking. My thoughts were in chaos, as if someone had stirred a hornet’s nest in my mind. The silence was unbearable. But before I could retreat deeper into the pit of my thoughts, a familiar voice called behind me.“Jaxon?”It was Kara. I didn’t turn immediately, hoping she’d take the hint and leave. But Kara was persistent, always had been. Kara and I grew up together, we were like brothers and sisters but she wasn’t my blood she was adopted by my father when her parents was accused of treason in Rivershade pack.“What’s going on with you lately?” she asked, stepping closer. “You’ve been off since the festival.”She reached out, fingers brushing my arm in a gesture that used to comfort me once. I pulled back. “Not now, Kara. I’m not in the mood.”Her hand dropped, and for once, she didn’t argue. She just stood there, staring at me as though searching for something that might’ve been there once. But whatever sign of con
Elvira’s POVThe moment the maid stepped out of Alpha Jaxon’s chambers, I knew something was wrong. Her face was drawn and uncertain, her steps hesitant as she approached me. Brielle had called in sick, leaving me alone to handle everything. I’d hoped maybe, just maybe, I could steal a moment with Alpha Jaxon. Talk to him at least.The maid lowered her gaze. “Lady Elvira,” she said softly, “I’m sorry, but Alpha Jaxon said he doesn’t want to see you.”I blinked. “What? That can’t be true. He—”She cut me off quickly, gently but firmly. “He made it clear he doesn’t want to see you. I’m sorry.”Something splintered inside of me. I nodded slowly, holding back the rising tide of emotions, and turned away.But my heart had already shattered.I didn’t know where I was walking. I just let my legs take me wherever they wanted. Maybe I was hoping the ground would open up and swallow me whole. Maybe if I walked far enough, the pain would reduce.Tears streamed down my cheeks, warm and unrelentin
Jaxon’s POVI stormed into the council chambers, not bothering to knock. My patience was thin, and I needed answers. And there he was.Kairo sat comfortably, too comfortably, with his legs crossed and propped up on the grand mahogany desk like he owned the damn place. His arms were folded behind his head, eyes shut in a smug, infuriating expression of arrogance. The disrespect in his posture made something inside me snap.He opened one eye, smirked.“You’re late,” he said casually.I hissed, turning to Ronan instead, ignoring the bastard for a moment before I did something I’d regret.“Where is the messenger?” I demanded, jaw clenched.Ronan let out a long exhale and lowered his voice. “Alpha Ryn sent in Kairo. He’s the messenger.”I chuckled bitterly, a hollow sound that echoed through the council hall. My fists tightened at my sides. “A very cruel life we live. Is this some kind of sick joke? Has it come to this?”Kairo slowly sat upright, brushing imaginary dust off his lap. “Oh,
Jaxon’s POVI sat at the far end of the balcony, the silence of the night resting heavily on my shoulders. The stars on the sky blinked against me, distant and different. The soft hum of people echoed below—laughter, music, footsteps of festival goers going with joy. But none of it reached me.I stared at my watch. Deric was late. I had sent a message to him in Bloodmoon, asking him to come see me privately.The longer I waited, the more the questions tangled in my head like thorny vines. I felt the shift in the air before I heard the footsteps. I turned to see Deric.He emerged from the darkness, his long coat flaring behind him.“You’re late,” I muttered, not looking at him.“I had matters to attend to,” he replied, tone smooth, laced with a cold expression. We greeted briefly, a nod, a stiff handshake—brothers in name, strangers in times like this.Deric moved closer, leaning against the stone railing beside me. “I heard what happened with Alpha Mira’s… how are you holding up?”I
Elvira's POVThe day two Festival ended, Morrien felt different—quieter, almost empty. The once-lively grounds now echoed only with the distant rustle of trees, as it usually does but tonight, it felt lonelier. I wandered the corridors, my fingers grazing the cool stone walls as I searched for Alpha Jaxon. He hadn’t returned to his chambers after the festival, and a strange worry rosed to my chest. Something about the way he kept pacing, waiting, unsettled me deeply. But it wasn’t just concern for him that pushed me forward, it was guilt. A deep, insistent guilt I couldn’t silence since I overheard Alpha Deric and Ronan talking about the Moonshade dust.What plan had failed? And why did it involve me?I rounded a corner too quickly and collided with a firm chest.“Oh—I’m sorry—” I gasped, stepping back, only to freeze as I looked up into the sharp eyes of Alpha Callan.His expression was unreadable. Cold and detached. His usually golden-brown eyes felt like shards of amber, sharp and