Chapter 80
~80
Elara’s POV
The feast began at sunset.
By the time I entered the hall, everything glowed. Lamps hung from the high ceiling. Candles lined the long tables. Music filled the space, soft at first, then louder, warmer. People stood and turned as I walked in, their voices lowering, then rising again in soft excitement.
The dress hugged me perfectly.
Silver threads caught the light with every step I took. The fabric moved like it was alive, flowing around my legs. My hair was pinned back just enough to show my face, loose enough to make me feel light.
“She looks beautiful,” someone whispered.
“That’s the Alpha’s daughter p>
“Our princess p>
The word followed me everywhere.
Princess.
I felt my present self tense inside, like I was wearing a name that didn’t fit but still belonged to me somehow.
My parents stood at the front. Alpha Rowan reached for my hand. My mother smiled so wide it almost hurt to look at her.
“This feast is for you,” Alpha Rowan said proudly to the room. “Nothing more, and nothing less p>
Cheers filled the hall.
I smiled. I waved slightly. It felt natural. Easy. Like this was something I had done many times before.
Lira appeared at my side, wearing a flowing, deep green dress. She looked happy. Real happy.
“You look unfair,” she said. “How am I supposed to compete with that p>
I laughed. “You’re dramatic p>
Ronan joined us a moment later, dressed in a dark cloak that fit him perfectly. His hair was neat, his eyes bright.
“You look he stopped, shaking his head. “You look too good. It should be illegal p>
I rolled my eyes. “You’re not serious people p>
“I am very serious,” he said. “Very deeply serious p>
Lira snorted. “He’s been staring since you walked in p>
Ronan didn’t deny it. “Can you blame me p>
Music started properly then. People danced. Glasses clinked. Laughter filled every corner. Someone pulled me away for a dance. Then another person. Then another.
I spun. I laughed. I breathed.
And through it all, Ronan kept finding me.
“You’re glowing,” he said at one point.
“You already said that p>
“I feel the need to say it again p>
I smiled, warm but unaware. This Elara didn’t notice the weight behind his words. She didn’t hear the longing. But I did.
My present self did.
Hours passed. The music grew slower. My feet began to ache. My smile started to feel heavy.
My mother noticed immediately.
“You’re tired,” she said, touching my arm.
“A little,” I admitted.
“Go to your room,” she said gently. “Rest. We can finish later p>
I nodded, relieved.
As I turned toward the hallway, someone called my name quietly.
“Elara p>
I stopped.
Ronan stood a few steps away, his hands clasped together, his shoulders tense.
“I have something for you,” he said.
“Oh?” I tilted my head. “What is it p>
“Can we… can we talk somewhere quiet p>
I hesitated for a second, then nodded. “Alright p>
He followed me down the hall, past the tall doors, into my room. The space was calm and soft. Curtains fluttered slightly in the open window.
Ronan reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box.
“For you,” he said, handing it to me.
I opened it slowly.
Inside was a simple necklace. Silver. A small symbol carved into it.
“Oh,” I whispered. “It’s beautiful p>
“I saw it and thought of you,” he said quickly.
“Thank you,” I said honestly. “I really like it p>
He didn’t smile.
He just stood there, still, like he was holding his breath.
“Is that all?” I asked gently. “You look like you’re about to pass out p>
He let out a nervous laugh. “I might p>
I waited.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ve liked you,” he said suddenly. “Ever since we were young p>
I blinked, surprised but not shocked.
He rushed on. “I know this isn’t the right moment and maybe I should not say this now, but I don’t want to keep pretending p>
I smiled softly. “Ronan p>
“I want to marry you,” he said quickly. “That’s how much I like you p>
Silence filled the room.
My present self froze.
The Elara in the vision did not.
She smiled, gentle and calm.
“I like you too,” I said kindly.
Hope flashed across his face.
“But,” I continued softly, “not like that p>
The words hung between us longer than I expected. I saw it the moment they landed. Ronan’s shoulders dropped, just a little, like something inside him had loosened and sunk. He wasn’t angry, not surprised. But he looked quite hurt.
“I see you as a friend,” I said, slower now, careful. “A very good one. And I don’t want to marry someone who isn’t my true mate p>
He did not look away. He just listened. Always listening. His jaw tightened for a second before he swallowed hard, like he was pushing something heavy down his throat.
“You know why,” I added gently. “We’re twenty now. You wolfed out at eighteen. Lira too p>
“And you didn’t,” he said quietly.
I shook my head. “No p>
There was no bitterness in my voice. No shame either. It was just the truth I had lived with all my life.
“Because of the prophecy,” I explained. “I can only wolf out when my true mate marks me p>
Saying it out loud still felt strange. Like repeating a rule that controlled my entire future. Ronan nodded slowly, his eyes lowering to the floor.
“I know,” he said.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. The room felt smaller. Too quiet. I suddenly worried I had crushed something fragile between us without meaning to.
“I’m sorry,” I said honestly. My voice dropped. “I hope I didn’t hurt you p>
He breathed in deeply, then let it out. When he looked up again, he smiled. Not the teasing smile he always wore. Not the easy one. This one was softer. Sad, but real.
“I understand,” he said. “Really p>
Relief washed through me, gentle but heavy. My shoulders relaxed without me meaning to. I did not realise how tense I had been until that moment.
“I just,” he paused, rubbing his palm together, “I needed to say it. I didn’t want to keep carrying it alone p>
I nodded. “I’m glad you told me p>
He chuckled. “Even if the answer wasn’t what I hoped p>
“I care about you,” I said quickly. “That part is true. I don’t want you to think you mean nothing to me p>
“I know,” he said. His voice was steady, even if his eyes weren’t. “That’s why I fell in love, I think p>
The words were not a confession anymore. They were just a fact. And somehow that made them hurt less.
He hesitated, then asked, “This won’t change anything, will it p>
I tilted my head. “What do you mean p>
“Our friendship,” he said. “Will this make things strange between us p>
I smiled at him. “No. It won’t p>
He nodded, turning toward the door. “Good night, Princess p>
“Good night, Ronan p>
As he left, my present self felt everything crash at once.
Love that never turned into hate doesn’t become cruelty without reason.
And I finally understood something.
This world wasn’t a dream.
It was a life, and it was mine.