Chapter 13

Elara

The two of us returned to the house in silence. The car was eerily quiet without Zoe’s constant chatter, and I wasn’t looking forward to spending an entire day in Alaric’s house without the sound of her voice.

As we stepped into the grand foyer, Alaric turned to me.

“Tomorrow is the children’s welcome party, as well as the day I officially address the media regarding the situation,” he said matter-of-factly. “I’ll be inviting all the elite werewolves, including members of the press. You will need to attend, of course. As my wife.”

I looked up at him, trying to mask my apprehension. “Alright.”

He added, “Of course, you’ll need to learn some basic social etiquette to avoid suspicion.”

“Are you saying I lack etiquette?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

He met my gaze. “I’m saying that the circles we’ll be mingling in have... certain expectations. It would be best if you’re prepared.”

I sighed softly. “Fine. What do I need to know?”

He gestured toward the sitting room. “Let’s start with the basics.”

We made our way to the sitting room and sat down in the plush armchairs, and he began a concise lesson on how to navigate the intricate world of the elite. He taught me how to answer questions gracefully, how to tactfully deflect private inquiries, and even the subtle art of reading between the lines in conversation.

All things that Mason, a Beta, had never bothered to explain to me despite all our years of being together.

“What if someone asks about our marriage?” I inquired.

“Keep it vague but positive,” he advised. “They’ll be fishing for gossip. Don’t give them any. If they ask about our first meeting, simply tell them that we met by chance and don’t say anything else.”

I nodded, absorbing his words. “And what if they ask about the children?”

“Same approach,” he replied. “Protect their privacy.”

“This is a lot to remember,” I murmured, rubbing my temples. It didn’t feel so much like an etiquette lesson as it was a script lesson.

“You’ll manage,” he said confidently. “Just stay close to me during the event.”

Then, Alaric stood and extended his hand to help me up. His gaze was serious as he looked at me. “One more thing. Social dancing is a skill every upper-class werewolf is expected to know. There will be a dance at the party.”

I blinked in surprise. “Dancing? I haven’t danced in years.”

“Then we should practice,” he stated matter-of-factly.

Before I could protest, he strode over to the record player and put on a slow, orchestral song. He returned and took my hand in his, his other hand firmly but gently settling on my waist as he pulled me closer. I felt a flush rise to my cheeks at the sudden proximity.

“Alaric—”

“Relax,” he interrupted softly. “Follow my lead.”

The soft strains of the music filled the room. I looked up at him, feeling the warmth and strength of his broad chest against mine. Oddly, I wasn’t sure if I had ever realized just how tall he was, and how small I felt in his arms. But if he noticed, he certainly gave no indication.

His movements were gentle yet carried an undeniable authority. My heart raced as I accidentally stepped on his foot. But his face showed no reaction.

“You’re tense,” he observed.

“Maybe because this is unexpected,” I retorted lightly.

He tilted his head slightly. “Is it so terrible?”

I hesitated. “No, it’s just... unfamiliar.”

“Then let’s make it familiar.”

We continued to dance, the silence between us stretching on.

As we moved, my thoughts drifted back to the past—to the man who had once promised to love me forever. Mason and I had been college sweethearts, full of dreams and plans.

But everything changed after I became pregnant.

He turned cold, criticizing my appearance and complaining about my changing body. I had believed our love was unbreakable, but he became addicted to alcohol, treated me with indifference, and eventually, I found him cheating. He called me an Omega unworthy of a Beta like him before walking out of our lives. He rejected me and my wolf has not been here since then.

A sharp pang of hurt struck the inside of my chest just at the thought. I tried to be strong, but the memories were too painful. Tears blurred my vision, and before I knew it, they slipped down my cheeks.

“Elara?” Alaric’s voice pulled me back to the present.

I realized I had unconsciously leaned into his chest, seeking solace in his warmth. Embarrassed, I pulled back abruptly. “I’m sorry,” I murmured, avoiding his gaze. “I’ve stained your shirt... I’ll take care of it.”

He looked down at the tear marks on his black shirt, then back at me. “Why were you crying?”

“It’s nothing,” I tried to dismiss, wiping my cheeks hastily.

He wasn’t convinced. “Elara, tell me.”

I hesitated before answering. “I... I just thought about my ex-husband.”

His eyes softened slightly, but only a fraction. “Mason, correct?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

He was silent for a moment before reaching out to gently wipe a remaining tear from my face. “You don’t need to cry over the past. That man didn’t value you. He’s the one who lost out, not you.”

I blinked, momentarily taken aback by his kindness. It was difficult to reconcile this soft side of him that occasionally slipped out with the hard, stoic Alpha exterior that he put up most of the time. Which one was the real version of him?

“But I can’t let go of those painful memories,” I found myself saying. “I keep thinking it was my fault, that I wasn’t good enough...”

Alaric’s voice softened even more. “Elara, he was gaslighting you. That’s not on you—it’s on him.”

I looked up into his eyes, searching for any hint of insincerity but found none. “How do you know?”

He gave a slight shrug. “I’ve seen it happen before. It’s a common tactic among insecure men.”

A bitter laugh escaped me. “Well, he was certainly that.”

A faint, sardonic smile crossed his face. “I guess now is as good a time as any to let you know that I actually invited your ex-husband to tomorrow’s party.”

My eyes widened, and I stumbled back. “What? Why would you do that?”

He shrugged. “He’s a Beta. Besides, it will let him see for himself how well you’re doing now,” he replied. “Maybe then he’ll realize what he lost.”

“I don’t know if I’m ready to face him,” I ground out, feeling a little hurt that he would do this without asking me first. I understood that he invited Mason as one of the elites, but it still hurt.

Suddenly, Alaric’s expression shifted, his gaze becoming distant. I recognized the telltale sign of a mindlink—a private communication among werewolves. His brows furrowed deeply.

“What is it?” I asked.

He held up a hand, signaling for me to wait. I grit my teeth and watched for a few moments as he went through the mental conversation. When he was finished, he blinked a few times to refocus his gaze. His jaw was set hard.

“It’s the girls,” he bit out, taking quick strides past me and grabbing his jacket off the back of the chair. “They’re fighting at school.”

My eyes widened. Without a word, I grabbed my own jacket and ran after him.