{Elira}
~**^**~
Lennon walked beside me as we left the dining hall.
The breeze greeted us, brushing against my skin as we stepped outside.
"Since you will be living here now," he said casually, "there will be plenty of time to show you around properly."
I offered a slight nod. My body was still sluggish from the meal, but my mind was alert. The fresh air helped.
Then, out of nowhere, he asked, "So… what happened to the fabric? The one from the market two days ago."
My steps faltered slightly. He remembered?
I didn't think he would. He never acted like he did until this question.
"Did it get damaged a lot?" he pressed further, voice neutral.
I turned my gaze away from him and answered. "Lady Maren got another one."
His lips twitched like he had expected as much. "I figured. I'm sure she gave you hell for it, too."
I stayed quiet. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if he already knew so much about my relationship with Lady Maren.
"You should have let me pay," he said after a beat, as if understanding what went down.
I finally glanced at him. "Your apology was enough."
But it hadn't been—not really, not after having an iron sear through my spine. But I didn't want to make him feel guilty.
And besides, it wasn't really his fault. Regina would have found another reason to punish me.
We passed a manicured hedge and stepped onto a gravel path. The Ashford estate stretched around us, grand and elegant.
I had been here before. A long time ago.
My father used to bring me with him when he met with Alpha Cyprus. I'd sit on the porch steps and sip lemonade, believing the world was kind.
But that was before everything.
Last night had been a blur. I hadn't seen anything on the way in. I'd been unconscious. But now, the memories fluttered in like moths to flame.
"Don't you want to know where I'm taking you?" Lennon asked after a while, flashing a half-smile.
I blinked. "Where?"
"The training grounds."
I didn't know what to say to that. I wasn't exactly interested, but I also didn't want to seem ungrateful. He was trying to make conversation, and I didn't want to ruin his good intentions.
So I nodded.
---
It took about ten minutes to reach the grounds.
Two warriors were already mid-duel on the open field—one slim and agile, the other bulky with a chest like a barrel.
"See that one?" Lennon pointed to the hefty one. "He is stronger. And there is more power behind his punches."
Then he tilted his head toward the slimmer opponent. "But that one's faster. His footwork is clean. He will win."
I watched in silence, studying the way the nimble fighter ducked and weaved. He danced around the heavier man's blows, never staying still long enough to be caught.
"You were right," I murmured, my eyes still on them.
Lennon smirked. "I usually am."
The duel was captivating—fast, gritty, precise. I could feel the raw strength radiating from their wolves, even in human form.
"They are part of Zenon's first trained unit," Lennon added, as if it were casual knowledge.
That surprised me. And before I could process what that meant about Zenon's power or discipline, a new energy shifted the air. It was a cold one.
Directly in front of us stood Zenon. He resembled a storm in black with his cold eyes and clenched jaw.
I gasped and stepped back immediately, knowing he was particularly displeased by my presence.
Then his eyes stayed locked on his brother. "Why did you bring her here?"
Lennon shrugged, completely unfazed. "Just showing her around."
Zenon didn't answer. He just narrowed his eyes.
Lennon scanned the field and frowned. "Where's Rennon? I don't see him around."
I looked around, too. There was no sign of Rennon. He and Zenon walked out of the dining hall together not long ago.
"He's not here," Zenon said flatly.
Lennon cocked his head to the side. He looked like he had something else to say, but Zenon didn't give him the chance.
Then his gaze flicked to me briefly.
"Take her away," he told Lennon. The warning in his voice was subtle but clear.
I dropped my gaze, my stomach twisting into knots.
Lennon sighed, then suddenly grabbed my hand. "Come on."
He led me away from the training grounds.
"He gets antsy when he's on the training grounds," Lennon explained, trying to smooth the tension with his voice.
But I could feel Zenon's glare on my back like that iron Regina used on me.
I didn't dare to look back.
"We have a livestock farm where we rear different animals, mainly for food and business. I will take you there," Lennon said to me.
After Zenon made me feel unwanted, all I wanted was to shower and crawl under soft blankets. But I still couldn't bring myself to say it to Lennon.
The warmth of his hand in mine made my fingers tingle. It wasn't uncomfortable, just warm.
I worried about what might be wrong with his body temperature while wondering when he planned to release my hand.
He let go just as we reached the main house.
And that's when we saw Rennon, standing by a car near the drive, shutting the door with his foot. In his hands were two shopping bags.
"You went out?" Lennon asked in surprise, leading us over. "I thought you were with Zenon."
Rennon turned, and his glasses caught the sun briefly. "No. I went to get a few things."
"For what?"
Rennon looked at me. "She's still wearing yesterday's clothes. She hasn't had a bath, and she doesn't have anything to change into."
He held out the bags slightly and added calmly, "So I picked up a few basics."
Something caught in my throat, but then I swallowed it back.
"Thank you," I said softly.
He nodded like it was nothing, but it felt like everything.
"Where are you two coming from?" he asked.
Lennon snorted. "Training grounds. Until Zenon showed up and chased us off, we didn't even get to see the end of the duel."
"That sounds like Zenon," Rennon murmured.
It appeared to me that the brothers were quite familiar with the first one. And, naturally, they were.
The livestock tour was forgotten.
They walked me back into the house. Rennon was in front with the bags while Lennon walked beside me again.
As we reached the stairs, Lennon glanced at me.
"Your room's ready," he said with a crooked smile.
My heart leapt with excitement and anticipation.
At the top of the stairs, he opened the second door on the left, stepping aside for me and Rennon to enter.
The room welcomed me with warm orange and soft lemon tones. A queen-sized bed with a post. Two pale green sofas near a round table. A wide wardrobe. A dressing table by the window. Another door led to what I guessed was the bathroom.
It smelled of citrus and peace. Just what I wanted.
It was more beautiful than the room I'd had when my parents were alive. More peaceful than I ever thought I'd feel again.
After their deaths, Uncle Marc and his family moved in in time to resume his new position as Beta.
And shortly after that, Regina had taken almost everything that belonged to me, including my bedroom.
Now, this space felt like the Moon Goddess was finally showing me a sliver of grace, even if it came wrapped in a twisted fate and a bond to the triplet brothers.