All Chapters of ELDER'S BLOOD : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Elena's point of view.I found myself rambling again as Vanda and I walked through the woods. “I think I got a little distracted toward the end,” I admitted.“With what?” Vanda asked, his curiosity piqued.I hesitated before speaking. “Well, we know Alpha Walter can find another Luna to produce an heir, but what about Alpha Kane? He has his Luna, Serena, but they can’t seem to have a son. What is he supposed to do?”Vanda’s jaw tightened, his response delayed. “It’s a complex situation,” he finally said.“What would you do if you were him?” I pressed.“I don’t know,” Vanda replied. “I thank the Goddess I’m not.”I glanced at the trees, my thoughts drifting. “But what if we couldn’t—”“You’re thinking too far ahead,” he interrupted. “Don’t worry yourself.”I stopped walking, my heart heavy with unease. “Would you find someone else who could give you a son?”Vanda halted abruptly, turning to face me. “Where is this coming from?”I shrugged, instantly regretting my question. “The words j

Elena's point of view.At one in the morning, I hear Vanda return to the house. Unable to sleep for hours, I leave the bed and rush downstairs in my nightgown. Ben is staying in one of the guest rooms—we thought it too dangerous for him to head home alone with a potential attack looming—so I lent him some of Vanda's clothes and a bed. The dim light under the guest room door tells me he’s asleep.As I hurry down the stairs, Vanda’s footsteps echo from the hallway before stopping abruptly. Leaning over the railing, I spot him glancing back at me.“Was it an attack?” I ask quickly.He gestures for me to come down, so I take the steps two at a time. Once I reach him, he confirms, “Kane attacked. He didn’t get too close to the border, but we didn’t have much time to intercept him. The first wolves to face his forces were slaughtered, but they bought us the time we needed.”“How bad?” I whisper.“Sixteen dead so far, though we may find more.”I press a hand to my mouth. “Goddess. How did it

Elena's point of view.Vanda gently unclenches my fist, his expression caught between amusement and surprise."What is it?" he asks, a playful curve to his lips."I... want more," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper.His brows lift in surprise. Placing his hands on the desk on either side of me, he leans closer, his presence making me instinctively press my knees together. "Is that so?" His hazel eyes scan mine, searching for any trace of hesitation."What would you do if I was in heat?" I mumble, unable to meet his gaze.His smirk fades, replaced by a more serious look as he straightens. "Elena...""I'm serious," I insist, stepping down from the desk. "You mentioned there are...""There are what?" he prompts, his tone both curious and challenging.Heat rises to my cheeks as I glance away. "You said there are things besides traditional mating. I know about them, but I don’t know what you meant. I want to understand.""Alpha!" a voice calls from the front of the house, cutting thr

Elena's point of view.Sitting on either side of the kitchen table, Elizabeth sips her fresh, steaming tea and begins, "There are four Elder Blood packs on the continent—the four original Alpha bloodlines. VuK., Gold, Zander, Barsek." You know Alexa, Vanda's sister is mated to Alpha Gold? Elizabeth asked me and I nodded."Right, well, Vanda's grandfather, Rou VuK, hated the other Elder Blood Alphas and thought the whole thing was beneath him. He thought VuK's bloodline was above the other Elder Blood packs because VuK was technically the oldest, and he thought the younger packs were trying to equalize VuK's bloodline with them. As Rou aged, he only became more furious at the whole idea of the Elder's Blood packs, calling them phonies and whatnot, so he forfeited the title."Elizabeth continues as I'm hanging on the edge of my seat. "So, when VuK gave up their title, Alpha Walter—the fifth oldest—made a claim to it, and the Elder Blood packs, offended by Rou was gaven to Walter. Rou w

Elena's point of view.I'm paralyzed in the archway, hearing only snippets, sounds, and nothing comprehensible from the study beyond the living room. Nervous sparks travel throughout my fingers and palms and up my arms.What is Vanda telling Charles? That none of it is true—that Alex is mistaken?I could handle my parents' betrayal, and my sister's when she told Mark my secret, but I don't know what to do about the betrayal of my own body—of the bond in my chest that, like my veins, travels, winds, and pumps something like blood throughout me. The Goddess' gift.Again, I find myself questioning why she gave me this matehood. A gift... I clench my jaw, my heart aching.The front door sits just over my shoulder. I peer down at my robe, knowing I can't go out there and search for Elizabeth dressed like this, so I detour. I slip upstairs into the bedroom and jerk a shirt and pair of pants off their hangers in the closet. As rapidly as possible, I shrug off the robe and put on clean underw