Chapter 53
53
~Elara’s POV
I woke to a soft knock at the door. My eyes fluttered open, squinting at the sunlight streaming through the curtains. Before I could move, a guard stepped in, bowing respectfully.
“Good morning, Luna Elara,” he said, his voice calm. “A woman who calls herself Stella is here to see you p>
I froze. My stomach dropped. Stella? My aunt? Here? I sat up, feeling my heart start to race.
“Bring her in,” Darlon said from across the room, his voice calm but steady. He looked at me, a question in his eyes. “Are you okay with that p>
I nodded, though my mind was already spinning. I wasn’t sure I was ready to face her. Before I left the room, Darlon stepped closer and placed a soft, warming kiss on my lips.
“Good morning,” he whispered. “I’ll be right here when you’re done p>
I swallowed, feeling a mix of nerves and warmth, and headed to the meeting room. When I entered, my aunt was already seated. I froze for a second. Her eyes met mine, sharp and full of something I didn’t like.
“You!” she snapped before I could even get a word out, and her hand shot across the space between us. The sharp sting of her slap landed squarely on my cheek. I staggered back, my hand instinctively flying up to touch the red mark, and my mind froze for a moment as I tried to catch up to what had just happened.
“What… what did I do to deserve that?” I asked, my voice shaky, disbelief rising through me. My chest was tight, and my heart pounded in my ears.
“You can’t give up Alpha Darlon for Lira?” she yelled, her voice high, sharp, full of accusation. “Why can’t you let him go?! Why do you cling to him when he’s not yours p>
I blinked, trying to focus, trying to make sense of her words. “Wait… what? Give up? Give up what? Who…what are you even talking about?” I shouted, my voice rising. I took a cautious step back, trying to put some distance between us. “Is there… some secret between you and Lira? Because why… why are you always putting her above me? Why am I supposed to give up everything for her p>
She looked at me with an expression that seemed to say I had crossed some invisible line. Her lips moved as if she were about to argue, but I cut her off, my own anger growing, a fire lighting inside me.
“No! No, Aunt! I should be the one you are backing! Not Lira! Not ever! And the marriage… the marriage was even forced on me. So why am I supposed to give up my life, my happiness, for her again? Why is it always her first? Why is it always her that matters?” My voice echoed in the room. I couldn’t help it. I had held these feelings for too long, had swallowed them too many times. Now they were spilling out.
She stared at me, her face frozen in shock. Even I was taken aback by the strength in my own voice. I had never spoken to her like this before.
“Listen, Elara,” she said, trying to regain control, her voice firmer now but still tinged with unease, “the Alpha and Luna took you in. They clothed you, fed you, sent you to school, and gave you a role in their company. This is how you repay them? By… by talking back like this p>
I scoffed, my head shaking. Anger and disbelief coursed through me, fueling my words. “Repay them? Aunty, all they did was treat me like a maid! Every penny they spent on me, every opportunity I got, I worked for! I earned it! I fought for it! And Lira… she does nothing! Absolutely nothing! She just sits, is lazy, gets everything handed to her, and yet everyone treats her like a queen! And you… You expect me to just give up everything for her? Just like that p>
Her eyes widened, her jaw tightening. I saw her hand lift again, and for a split second, I braced myself, expecting the sting of her slap. But before it could land, the door swung open, and everything shifted.
Darlon stepped in, his presence immediately commanding the room. The air seemed to bend around him, his authority radiating outwards. My aunt froze mid-gesture, her hand halfway raised, and instinctively, I stepped slightly behind him, relief and gratitude washing over me in equal measure.
“Take her out,” Darlon ordered, his voice cold, sharp, and controlled, leaving no room for argument. The guard in the room immediately moved toward her, bowing slightly in acknowledgment but ready to follow his command.
“She should be imprisoned for laying her hands on my woman,” Darlon said, his voice firm, low, leaving no room for argument. His gaze turned back to me, and his hand reached out, cupping my cheeks gently, his thumb brushing across my skin like he was trying to soothe the tension right out of me. “But you… I am so proud of you. Proud that you stood up for yourself. Always do that, Elara p>
I leaned into him without thinking, letting the warmth of his hand calm my racing heart. My chest felt lighter just being near him, the fear and anger of the encounter with Stella washing away, replaced by a steady, comforting strength.
He pulled his phone from his pocket, his expression settling into one of calm authority. “Rowan,” he said, pressing the phone to his ear. “Forget about the Blueberries Company. I’m taking over completely.” There was no hesitation, no waiting for a reply. He ended the call, and I felt a thrill at how fiercely protective he was, not just in words, but in action.
I threw my arms around him, hugging him tightly, letting the adrenaline melt into something softer, warmer. His arms wrapped around me, holding me close, and I felt the tension in my shoulders and back finally begin to release. I tilted my head up, catching the corner of his smile, and it made my chest flutter.
“Shall we… take a break?” he asked, his voice soft now, almost shy. “Travel to another city, have some fun… just the two of us p>
I nodded eagerly, my lips curling into a small, excited smile. “Yes. Can… can my friend tag along?” My eyes flicked to him, hoping he wouldn’t mind.
He hesitated, his brow furrowing slightly. “I wanted it to be just us… alone. Taking a third party might ruin that,” he said quietly, but there was a softness in his gaze that made my heart squeeze.
I leaned closer, letting my hand brush his chest. “Janae won’t ruin it. And we can bring Beta David too. They will get along and have fun by themselves.” I watched him carefully, trying to read the thought behind his eyes.
Finally, a small smile tugged at his lips, just enough to make my stomach flip. “Alright. If you say so,” he murmured, his voice warm. His hand lingered on mine, then slid back to my waist, pulling me a little closer, almost protectively. I could feel the steady beat of his chest, the warmth of his body radiating into mine, and I closed my eyes for a moment, just letting it sink in.
I practically bounced with excitement, my hands trembling as I pulled my phone from my pocket. “Janae! You won’t believe this!” I practically shouted into the phone as soon as Darlon stepped aside for a moment. “We’re going for a vacation, and I need to know… will you come with me p>
“Of course!” Her voice was immediate, bright, and happy. “I wouldn’t miss it for anything. I’ve even taken leave from work. I want to enjoy life, and this sounds perfect p>
I grinned, my heart racing. “Yes! It’s going to be amazing p>
Darlon walked over, wrapping his arm around me. “Looks like everything is set then,” he said, his smile warm.