It rained heavily as the thunder roared, echoing through the room. I took haste in my steps, my feet thudded against the ground as some water splashed on my trouser edge. I was drenched when I arrived at her place—Beta had described the route. Lightning flashed, illuminating her doorstep, and without a single thought, I pushed the door open. "Elara, I have to check on her," were my thoughts at that moment, but I froze when I caught sight of her, Elara.
She lay there on the bed, her wrists and ankles bound by cold iron shackles. Her hair was plastered on her fevered skin, her breath in ragged gasps.
"Who, who allowed this?" I snarled, storming in, my fist clenched as a fury spurred up within me. Gazing at the woman I presumed had done it, watching her tremble in fear as she spoke, "S-sire.....she lost herself in the fever; she was thrashing and hurting herself. We had no choice but to restrain her..." she explained.
My gaze remained locked on her, my chest heaving as I unclenched my fist.
I left the woman's side, She — a lowly omega — was brutally executed by the Lycan King after rejecting the Alpha, Lucian.
It wasn't until she escaped to a mysterious town that she discovered the truth about her unique bloodline.
To conceal her identity, she sealed away her wolf spirit and chose to live in hiding.
But in her second year on the quiet town's outskirts, an unexpected letter arrived:
"In the name of the Alpha, I summon you back to the Frostbane Pack. —Lucian"
Her heart dropped.
She thought she had escaped her past — masked her scent, buried her identity, and fled from the mate she had once rejected: the powerful Alpha of the Frostbane Pack.
But Lucian had found her.
Determined not to return, she planned her escape once more.
Yet just as she was about to disappear again… she met her second mate in this very town.
Elara. Her face was ashen, with little beads of sweat glistening down her brows.
She shivered softly, her lips leaving a silent scream as if she was stuck in a nightmare.
I sat down beside her as I unlocked the shackles.
The moment her wrists were free, she raked her fingers through her hair, pressing them against her scalp as if to claw the vision from her mind. Her body trembled even more.
Without a second thought, I caught her in my arms, wrapping her hand against her chest as I held her gently—one hand at her back, the other cradling her head.
I patted her back in slow, steady strokes.
"What could have happened?" I only wondered. She was doing just fine this morning—a fever?
"Alpha," I heard, and I watched Lincoln making his way in a hurry. I guess I had moved too fast for him to catch up; the truth of me not wanting any more seconds to pass me by. My wolf was restless, and with her sudden illness, I knew I had to be by her side.
My eyes remained on her as I watched her breath ease a little.
My hands slowly wiped the sweat beads glistening down her cheeks.
As I held her closer in my arms, I could feel her hands on my shirt as they slowly moved.
Her eyes weren't open; it only seemed her breathing was the only one easing up.
Even if I couldn't put things together, why I had this bond to her at first sight. I thought I would never find a mate, but I got attracted to her. I didn't care if her words were true; he wasn't here with her, was he? The one she so much called as her mate.
"My wolf had chosen you, Elara, and I will make sure I protect you from any thorns that come your way. Even from this town, I will tear those who lay a single hand on you..." I whispered, caring less if my words were heard.
She was mine, my whole world, I would say.
"Sir, her condition... it's getting worse..." I heard the same woman present in the room utter.
I could also feel it—those shivering wrists, the lips that parted in silent screams. I had to help her, find a way. The rage spurring back, knowing that instead of looking for a way to treat her, they had her bound in shackles. But this wasn't the time for me to think about that.
"She needs treatment..." I said, eyes gazing back at the woman. My stairs was enough to tell her that I meant she should find a way to treat Elara soon.
"I... I tried, but nothing I do is working. Her fever isn't dropping in the slightest, but... I am really sorry, but..." the woman's voice trailed off.
What did she mean by it wasn't working? Was this the best the town had to offer for one they spoke of as their kind?
I could feel Elara melting into my arms. If I didn't do anything soon... no, that couldn't happen. I can't lose her.
"Find something, then! Don't stand there saying you tried!" I snapped for those moments, almost lashing out at the woman who trembled, stumbling backward.
"A... Alright... sir..." she said, making her way outside in unstable steps.
I shouldn't have done that, but I just couldn't hold it. I can't lose her.
"Alpha..." I heard Lincoln call my name again, but I still left no words for him. I'm sure he must be wondering what was happening, why I held Elara so close in my arms—the very fact that she was delirious, calling my name in the first place. I hadn't told him about the bond because I wasn't sure myself, but there was no doubt now that she was my mate.
I felt like I was dying just by watching her health worsen in my arms. I could only wish I was able to take this pain from her. It only made me hate myself, knowing that all I could do was just hold her in my very arms that proved useless in protecting her from this.
"She will be fine; she has to be." I said.
"Elara!" My gaze was drawn to the woman that had shown me my room in the motel.
"What happened to Elara?" she asked, gasping for breath. I could tell she had run just by hearing the words. It only seemed the two were close friends. But I frowned when I noticed who was standing beside her. It was one of the elders.
What was he doing here? I had left in a hurry without giving them any words in response, and I was sure they must have heard her fever getting worse by the second.
I paid no attention to him; my gaze returned to Elara, only for me to notice her lips slowly part as she whispered—so softly that I almost missed it—one single word: "Mate."
I froze, the word hanging between us, charged as the storm outside roared louder.
Was she calling out to me or someone else?
As then, I heard the elder's voice behind me cut through the silence that echoed through the room.
"Alpha Kieran, allow me to take her back to the Council. She is in no condition to be here..." he said.