"Is it true she is his mate?" the woman murmured to her companion, not bothering to lower her voice.
Elara's spine straightened with a cold expression on her face.
"Yes," the younger one said simply. "But she did not choose him and found herself another mate. Not that I could blame her for that! But that makes her... dangerous."
They turned and vanished into another room.
The girl leading Elara finally stopped at a door and pushed it open. "This is yours," she said. "I'm Caelin. You'll see me again."
Elara did not speak. Her eyes looked dead as she stepped inside.
The room was... beautiful. But it felt more like a luxury prison cell. The windows had a strong iron bar. Though they both knew she could break them as soon as she turned. But what they did not know, she could break them without turning. With just the touch of her fingers! But she was not planning to leave! Not without taking revenge for Callen.
She was going to kill that bastard who had snatched her mate from her.
"Dinner is served at seven," Caelin said. "Everyone will be there. You should come."
"I won't." Elara snarled finally. She did not like how the girl was trying to be closer. Even her name! As if she was specifically chosen to tame her.
"Then Luca will come here." the girl warned in a voice that looked worried. It made Elara pause.
"I'll think about it," she said bitterly.
Caelin gave her an understanding look and then turned and left, closing the door behind her.
Elara collapsed onto the bed, fists clenched. She didn't belong here. She didn't want to belong.
An hour later the door was knocked again. Elara did not respond or open the door. She knew they did not need it. They knocked thrice before opening the door themselves. It proved that even if she locked it, anyone could open it and enter as long as they wanted to.
She did not have security here, worse.. No privacy.
There stood two maids. Calien was not one of them. They carried new dresses and shoes. Finest silk gown to a simple jeans and tshirt one would wear at him.
A summer dress, a long gown, one by one, they filled the whole closet with them.
"We are sorry for being late, luna." The word made Elara flinch and she finally sat up on her bed to look at them.
"I am not your luna." she announced. Each word is laced with venom. But the maid did not react.
"Luna, the alpha had asked us to help you with bath and dress up!" they repeated as if they did not hear Elara at all.
Elara snickered.
"Try to touch me and you will realize I am not a toothless tiger." At this moment, Elara did not care if they knew about her power. Or about anything. She would burn all of them.
She sat on the edge of the bed, still in the same tattered tunic and pants she'd arrived in—stained with dried blood and the remnants of the muddy forest floor where Callen had died in her arms. Her hands were clasped, jaw tight, eyes vacant.
"But, Luna, you need to change. You can not stay in those torn clothes." the maid pointed.
Elara turned her head slowly. "I said I'll think about attending. Not parading myself like some adorned pet."
"But—"
"I said no." Her voice was low, but it held the edge of something dangerous. The maids quickly backed off.
"We do not wish to go against you, Luna. we are all here to serve you." the maid spoke as she held the door. When she did not receive any reply, she sighed and closed the door. Elara heard the steps leaving and closed her eyes again.
Eventually, when the chimes signaled it was time, Elara stood up. She didn't touch the gowns. Didn't even wash her face. She walked out of her room with her boots still caked in dirt, blood smeared down her sleeves, her hair a tangled crown around her face.
When she entered the grand dining hall, the room went utterly silent.
Every pair of eyes turned to her. She could feel the disgust behind their shocked stares. Some gasped. A few whispered. Elara didn't care.
She walked calmly to the seat they'd clearly prepared for her, high-backed, carved in dark mahogany, near Luca's left side.
She sat down without a word. Luca, dressed in his usual austere black with a silver sigil at his collar, looked at her slowly. His face betrayed nothing. But in his sharp eyes, there was understanding. This was her rebellion.
She wouldn't scream. Wouldn't cry. She would sit here, wrapped in blood and death, until they were forced to confront it.
He didn't reprimand her. Nor did he demand that she change her clothes or scold her in front of others. Instead, he calmly lifted his glass and took a drink. The others hesitated but they had to follow their alpha's command.
Elara waited for the anger to build but nothing happened, making her rage burnt her chest.
"What would you like to eat?" he asked in a soothing voice and she finally turned to look at him,
"I want to have your flesh, tearing it with my own hands." gasps filled the room, luca's head tilted to warn them.
"As long as I mark you, you can use your claws to scratch me. But I am sure they are not strong enough to cut my flesh." his voice had such calmness that it infuriated her.
"I can show you." she snarled. "I will show you soon." The man smiled and signalled the waiter to bring a plate full of fruits.
"You will need strength for that." he whispered in a coddling voice. "Eat something, and train yourself. Have you ever taken warrior training or you have been a healer from the start?" She knew he was trying to make an effort. But it did not matter..
"I do not need training to kill a murderer like you."