All Chapters of ELDER'S BLOOD : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

Elena's point of view.Vanda jerk his head back, stunned. "What?""You've touched me twice now," I accuse, my voice trembling. "Yet, you keep your distance—you won’t even undress. You said it’s difficult to control certain things without mating, but I can’t believe there isn’t something I can—""This is about you wanting to touch me?" Vanda interrupts, his tone sharp.Crossing my arms, I feign confidence while embarrassment heats my skin."Come here, then," he challenges, motioning for me. "Go ahead."Vanda slides his chair back, and my fingertips go cold. My eyes widen, my mouth opens to protest, but no words come out—just a rush of air that nearly chokes me.I realize, despite how Vanda is in bed, I have no idea how to please him.He lifts his shirt, revealing his toned, tattooed body, crisscrossed with scars, each telling its own story. My breath catches. I thought we’d talk about this, ease into it like he always insists. But this—this isn’t what I expected.Standing, his height i

Elena's point of view.The conversation between Vanda and me had taken a sharp turn, morphing from gentle murmurs to something defensive and accusatory—much more than I had intended. Yet, I couldn’t dismiss my emotions or ignore the pain constricting the bond we shared. It felt like an invisible force was trying to suffocate it.I had wanted to believe the unfolding events were merely coincidental—that Vanda had sent me to visit my family for my own good. But my need for answers betrayed my doubts.Vanda rose from the bed, his expression unreadable. “This doesn’t change anything between us.”My fingers traced the fabric of my bedsheets as I avoided his gaze, but Vanda wouldn’t let me hide. He grabbed my chin, gently but firmly, ensuring I faced him. His grip wasn’t painful, yet I wished it came with the reassurance I desperately needed.But no such truth followed. My hope dwindled with his silence.Frustration bubbled to the surface, my voice trembling with emotion. “You’ve already us

Elena's point of view.Rose returned to me and Vanda, stirring a salve that I was certain would smell awful. But when she brought it over and I took a cautious sniff, I was pleasantly surprised—it smelled of chamomile with a touch of jasmine.I stayed curled up in Vanda's lap as Rose gently applied the mixture to my injured wrist."Apply the ointment three times a day—morning, midday, and before bed," Rose instructed, handing me a roll of stretchy bandage material. "Wrap it like I showed you and wear this over it." She handed me a sturdy leather brace.I gathered the supplies in my lap as she secured the brace around my wrist."If you stick to this routine and keep it immobilized—no shifting—you should be fine in about a week," she said. "Come back if it still hurts after seven days, alright?"Vanda helped me stand even though my legs were fine. "She will," he assured Rose.The sky had darkened by the time we left. Vanda held the door open for me, steadied me as I descended the front

Elena's point of view.I can’t help but wonder if Serena’s struggle is at least partially due to the distance between her and Ben, not just because of Mark’s death. I know how the bond can be when mates avoid one another; it would make sense if Serena is having a harder time healing when she’s suffering from two wounds and only attempting to treat one.When Ben finishes for the night, I walk him to the front door, give him a hurried yet tight hug, and shut the door behind him. Charles arrived sometime during our clean-up—I can hear his and Vanda’s voices like a soft hum through the walls.I yawn against the back of my hand and trek upstairs to change clothes.I think Vanda’s plan to visit the Kane pack is a great idea—especially since a war with Alpha Walter means sticking to Alpha VuK’s land—but I wonder if she’s forgotten about my heat issue. If my tracking is accurate, it’s due to happen as soon as tomorrow, and the thought of going into heat in front of her family is extremely mor

Elena's point of view.As I have only seconds to suppress the surge of anger that rises at the thought of replacing Vanda, I force a pleasant expression onto my face—something surprised yet joyful."Kevin? Really?" I ask, feigning breathlessness.Kevin—a brown-skinned man with buzzed hair and a few visible tattoos—flashes a broad smile. "Finally, I can put a face to the name. Elizabeth talks about you all the time, Luna.""Oh, please, it’s Elena. I can’t imagine Elizabeth’s mate calling me anything else—she’s incredible, I don’t know what I’d do without her; she’s brilliant.""Is she? Even after the wolfsbane incident?" Kevin chuckles nervously. "I was pretty horrified when she told me what happened, and I think she scared herself straight—no more experimenting with strange potions from old books.""Well, we’ll see," I tease. "I’m always willing to entertain her ideas.""I’m just glad you two get along so well. She says you’re like a younger sister to her.""Speaking of sisters," I sa