Chapter 468: Dead wolf

Chapter 468: Eric

The relationship between Father and Elara is strained for some reason. They can barely be in the same room. I do not know what happened. Elara refuses to elaborate, and I would obviously never ask him.

A warm hand is on mine. I look up at Gray and give him a small smile. My worries fade at the concerned look on his face.

We really should not have crossed the line that night. The hurdle was the first time. Clearly, given how we have never really stopped since then.

I look at our hands. Something I could only dream of for most of my life. Interlocked fingers. He does not pull away.

"I think Elara had an argument with Father," I say.

"I have noticed it too," he says.

We are quiet for a moment.

"She will not tell me what happened," I say. "She just says it is nothing."

"Maybe it is nothing," he says.

I scoff and exhale. I pull him onto my lap.

That is when the office door opens.

Gray jumps off me.

"It is just me," Elara says, waving her hand.

"You could knock," I say.

"With our hearing, there is no way you did not hear my footsteps." She looks between us. "Unless you were distracted, of course."

"Elara," I say.

Gray looks like the ground wants to swallow him whole.

"Fine," she says. "I will not tease."

She walks further into the office and closes the door behind her.

"The pregnant wolves we have been hiding are now too far along in their pregnancies for me to handle it," she says. "We need a professional now."

I think about it.Honestly, part of the reason I let them hide here was because I could not resist having leverage over two Alphas. No one would pass up such an opportunity.

"I suppose you are right," I say, thinking about their huge stomachs.

"I am right," Elara says. "They need proper attention and care from a midwife. But not just anyone—someone discreet."

"I will look into it," Gray says.

***

Seraphina

I sit up in bed and look at the sleeping Rylan next to me. I can only count on one arm the number of times he has spent the night at home in the months since he got back.

We have sex like normal. Talk like normal. Everything is normal.

So why am I so uneasy?

I watch him sleep. His face is peaceful. His breathing is even. He looks like he always has—handsome, strong, mine.

But something is different.

I can feel it.

They all treat me like I am insane when I bring it up, but I cannot stop this feeling.

Maybe I am going insane. Because between us, the bond is very much still active.

So what is it?

I reach out and touch his face.

He does not stir.

I pull my hand back.

I lie back down.

I stare at the ceiling.

I think about the bond. About the way it hums beneath my skin, constant and warm. It is still there. It is still strong.

So why do I feel this way?

I turn on my side.

I watch him sleep.

He is beautiful. He is mine. He is my mate.

I’m sure I am overthinking things.

I wake up and see a light from Ethan’s room. I open the door and find him on a small screen, something in his ears.

I walk in. He looks up.

"Ethan," I say. "What are you doing?"

He pulls out the things from his ear.

"Playing a game," he says.

"A game?" I ask.

"Yeah, on here," he says.

I walk in and sit on the edge of the bed.

"Did your grandparents get it for you?" I ask, curious about where he got the obviously human material.

"No, I borrowed it," he says.

"Borrowed it?" I ask.

"Yeah," he says.

He does not respond further. He keeps tapping his fingers on the small screen.

"Borrowed it from who?" I ask.

He is quiet for a moment.

"From Lyra," he says.

I feel my chest tighten.

"Lyra?"

"Yep."

"Lyra... Redmoon?" I ask again, hoping he tells me it is someone else.

"Yes," he responds.

I stand up immediately.

"Why would you get something from them?!" I ask, my voice rising.

He looks up at me, startled.

"Mom—"

"Why would you take something from Redmoon?"

"It is just a game—"

"It is not just a game." I am pacing now. "It is their game. From their pack. You do not take things from them."

"Why wouldn’t I?" Ethan says. "They are also wolves."

"Redmoon wolves," I say. "Do you not know what they did to me?"

He looks at me.He looks so much like Marcus—even his expression now is similar to when I tell him that there is something going on with Rylan. Looking at me like I am crazy or overreacting.

"Don’t look at me like that!" I snap.

He flinches.

"Ethan—"

"You are yelling at me again," he says quietly.

"I am not," I say. "I am just agitated these days. I am sorry. I—"

He gets off the bed.

"I will go to Grandma’s and Grandpa’s," he says.

"No, Ethan, I—" I start.

"It is okay, Mom." He says before leaving.

He walks past me. I stand there.

Why is everyone treating me like this?

It is not enough that I am having trouble conceiving. Dealing with rumors. Rylan’s mess. And now I have to deal with my son befriending the Redmoons?

My mates. My son. My pack.

I am surrounded by people, and I am alone.

I walk to the window.

I look out at the night.

The moon is full.

I am the Luna.

I am the chosen one.

I am enough.

Me.

I say it to myself again. Louder this time. I need to believe it.

I am different from that outcast wolf in Redmoon, that wolf is dead. I’m the Luna.