Chapter 104
104
~Elara’s POV
I didn’t even think twice. I just ended the call. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. Not right now. Not when I was so happy.
The phone rang again.
I sighed, rubbing my forehead. “Not now, please p>
I declined it.
The third time it rang, I picked it up because I knew she wouldn’t stop.
“Elara,” Aunt Stella started, but before I could speak, she raised her voice, sounding stressed and out of breath. “We need to talk. Right now. Alpha Rowan wants to see you p>
I leaned against the cold wall, staring at the tiles like they had all the answers. “If he wants to see me, then he should come to me,” I said quietly, but with a strength I didn’t even expect from myself. “I won’t beg anyone for respect ever again p>
“Elara, don’t start this,” she tried to say, but I didn’t let her finish.
I pressed the red button. The call ended. Silence came back, heavy and calm.
I put the phone in my pocket and walked out of the restroom. My steps were steady, like each one was building a new version of me. Outside, the air felt different on my skin, like it knew the wolf inside me was awake now.
When I opened the car door, Darlon looked up, and the smile that spread across his face made my chest warm.
“There you are,” he said softly, opening his arms.
I didn’t hesitate. I slid into the seat beside him, and he pulled me close. His forehead brushed mine, and he wrapped me in his arms like I was something precious.
“I missed you,” he whispered.
“I missed you, too,” I said, closing my eyes for a second. “More than I thought I would p>
He kissed the side of my head, then spoke to David. “Drive. Take us home p>
The car started moving. The road hummed beneath us, and for a moment, everything felt normal. Peaceful. Like the world outside didn’t exist.
I looked at him, trying to find the right words. “Something happened,” I said quietly. “In the restroom. I… shifted p>
His eyes widened, then softened. “You shifted? For real p>
I nodded. “My wolf… she came out. She talked to me. She told me her name. Her name is Alira.” Even saying it made my heart flutter. “And she said she has been waiting for me to wake up p>
Darlon reached for my hand and squeezed it. “I’m so happy for you,” he said, smiling so wide it reached his eyes. “I knew it would happen. I could feel it. I can’t wait to meet her p>
I smiled back, feeling lighter than before. “She’s strong. Confident. I think she’s everything I’m trying to be p>
“You already are,” he whispered.
We were almost home when David slowed down. I looked up and saw a car parked in front of our mansion gate. Darlon frowned, then rolled down the window. Alpha Rowan stood there, like he had been waiting for hours. When he saw us, he hurried forward and bowed deeply.
“Alpha Darlon. Luna Elara,” he greeted.
Darlon didn’t hide the annoyance in his voice. “Why are you here p>
Alpha Rowan looked tired and desperate. “I came to see Luna Elara. Please p>
My chest tightened a little, but I didn’t speak. Not yet.
Darlon narrowed his eyes. “Why? If this is about Lira, then go back home. It’s too late for that p>
Alpha Rowan dropped to his knees on the ground right in front of the gate. It shocked me for a second. The wind blew, carrying the smell of dust and regret from him. His voice shook when he spoke again.
“I came to beg. Not as an Alpha, but as a father. Please forgive my daughter. She didn’t know what she was doing p>
Darlon’s jaw clenched. “And that is supposed to make it better p>
“No,” Alpha Rowan said quietly. “But I still need to ask p>
There was a long silence. I could feel the weight of his words pressing on all of us. I didn’t know what to feel. Anger? Pity? Exhaustion? Maybe all three.
Darlon finally spoke. “It’s too late p>
Alpha Rowan bowed his head. “Please p>
Darlon leaned back and gestured. “David, drive in p>
The gates opened, and the car rolled forward.
As we passed, I looked at Alpha Rowan through the glass. He didn’t raise his head. He stayed on his knees. I didn’t say a word, but inside, Alira spoke softly.
“Not every broken thing deserves to be fixed p>
Maybe she was right. Maybe some things were better left behind.
Inside the mansion, the silence felt like a blanket. The kind of quiet that made the world outside feel far away. Darlon cupped my face gently with both hands, his thumbs brushing my cheeks like he was trying to wipe away every heavy thought.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice low and careful, like he was afraid I might break if he pushed too hard.
I nodded a little, but the truth sat heavy in my chest. “I’m trying to be,” I said. “I think I am. Just… a lot happened p>
He studied my face for a moment, searching my eyes. “If you want to talk to him,” he said quietly, “Rowan. I can call him back. He can come inside. We can hear what he has to say. Only if you want to p>
I looked away, staring at the marble floor. The reflection of the chandelier shimmered there, bright and blurry, the way my thoughts felt. For a second, I wondered if I should go out there. Face him. Listen to him. Maybe even forgive him. But the moment passed as quickly as it came.
“No,” I said, my voice steady. “I don’t want to talk to him. Not now. Maybe not ever p>
Darlon nodded slowly, respecting it without question. “Then we won’t p>
I took a breath, feeling something rise in me. “I have indulged Lira for years,” I said, and the words surprised me with how true they felt. “I made excuses for her. I let her speak to me anyhow. I let her act like she owned every space she walked into. I thought she would change. I hoped she would grow. But she didn’t p>
My throat tightened a little, but I didn’t stop. “She almost destroyed my image. She tried to tear down everything I built. She tried to make me look small. Like I didn’t belong anywhere. Like I was a mistake.” I blinked slowly. “I won’t reward that with forgiveness. Not this time p>
Darlon’s jaw tightened. His eyes softened, but there was a fire there, too. Not anger at me, but anger on my behalf. “She deserves to face consequences,” he said, his voice firm. “You don’t owe her peace just because she’s loud enough to demand it. You don’t have to heal people who are comfortable wounding you p>
He let his hand fall to my shoulder, squeezing gently. “And Alpha Rowan enabled her. He let her become what she is. So the weight is on him too p>
I nodded, grateful that he understood. “Yes. Exactly. I don’t hate her. I’m not angry the way I used to be. I’m just… done. She almost ruined everything. If she did something like this in another pack, she would be punished without question. So why should she be excused here p>
Darlon looked at me with a small, proud smile. “She will be punished,” he said. “And not because you are cruel, but because discipline is a language she never learned, and someone has to teach it p>
I let out a slow breath. The air didn’t feel as heavy anymore. I looked up at him, and he leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead like a promise.
“You did the right thing,” he whispered.
“I hope so,” I said.
“I know so p>