Chapter 2 CHAPTER 2
When Nikolas and Saphira rose from their seats at the head of the table, the noise of the dining hall seemed to dim. Nikolas’s eyes found Elara, and with a single nod, he indicated it was time.
Elara’s stomach clenched. She excused herself quietly, her cousins watching her with concern as she followed her parents out of the hall. Lyra gave her a subtle thumbs-up, Kieran mouthed good luck, and Ana’s gentle smile remained.
The walk to the office felt longer than usual. The corridors of the pack house were familiar, yet today every step carried the weight of expectation. When they reached the carved oak doors, Nikolas pushed them open, and Elara stepped inside.
The office was warm, with sunlight spilling across shelves lined with ancient tomes and maps. A fire crackled in the hearth, but its comfort did little to ease the tension coiling in her chest. Nikolas closed the door behind them, and the sound of it shutting felt final, like a lock clicking into place.
Saphira gestured for Elara to sit. “Come, love.” Her voice was gentle, but there was a firmness beneath it that made Elara’s pulse quicken.
She lowered herself into the chair opposite them, her hands twisting together in her lap. “What is this about?” she asked, though her voice came out quieter than she intended.
Nikolas leaned forward. “You are twenty now. That means your place in this pack, in this family, must be defined. You are no longer a child, Elara. You are the heir of the Arrax legacy.”
The words hit her hard. She forced herself to look at him. “I know my responsibilities. You’ve been preparing….”
Saphira reached across the desk, her hand brushing Elara’s, cutting her off. “This is more than preparation. The Matchmaker will soon call upon you. Your bond must be chosen, and with it, your future. The pack needs certainty. They need to see you step into your role.”
Elara’s chest tightened. “Chosen? You mean… arranged.”
Nikolas’s jaw clenched, though his voice stayed calm. “It is how things work now. You need a mate to stand beside you in this role; it will help provide stability to the pack.”
Her breath caught. She wanted to argue, to shout that she was more than a legacy and deserved more than an arranged mate. But her mother’s eyes softened, and she could see how much this meant to them.
Saphira squeezed her hand. “We know it feels heavy. But you are strong enough to bear it. And when the time comes, you will see that this path is not a cage, it is a crown.”
Elara looked between them, her mind spiralling with their words. A crown or a cage. They sound like the same thing to me.
She gave a reluctant nod, though her throat burned with unsaid words. “I… understand.”
Nikolas leaned back, satisfied. “Good. You will begin shadowing us more closely. Leadership is not learned in books; it is lived. You need to be fully prepared with a strong, suitable mate.”
Elara’s fingers clenched in her lap. She whispered, almost to herself, “Ready or not.”
Neither parent responded. The fire crackled, filling the silence. In that silence, Elara felt the weight of expectation settle fully on her shoulders, heavier than any gift.
Elara slipped back into her room after the meeting, her pulse still irregular. Her parents’ words clung to her like chains. She pressed her palms against the cool wall, trying to steady her breathing, but the weight in her chest refused to lift.
The door opened with a creak. Lyra slipped inside first, her green eyes filled with curiosity. “Well? What did they say?” she asked.
Kieran followed, his usual grin gone, replaced by a furrowed brow. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Arden folded her arms, leaning against the doorframe with a stiff posture. “I told you it was serious. What did they want?”
Ana entered last, eyeing her curiously. “Elara… talk to us.”
Elara sank onto the edge of her bed, the weight of expectation pressing more heavily now that she had to voice it. Her throat felt tight, but she forced the words out. “They said… I’m twenty now. Which means I’m no longer just their daughter. I’m the heir. And the Matchmaker will call on me soon. They want me to accept it and let my bond be chosen to fit the pack.”
Silence fell, heavy and suffocating. Lyra’s jaw clenched, her hands curling into fists. “Chosen? As in arranged? That’s not a bond, Elara. That’s a prison.”
Kieran’s fists clenched at his sides, his voice sharp with anger. “They can’t force you into that. You’re not some pawn to be moved around for stability.”
Arden’s tone was sharper, though her concern was clear. “That sounds more like how the Matchmaker used to run before your parents took over. It isn’t right, regardless of what they think is best for the pack; they need to see what is best for you.”
Elara’s chest ached. Her voice cracked as she whispered, “But what if they don’t care about what is best for me?”
Ana sat beside her, slipping her hand into Elara’s. Her touch was gentle. “Then you have to tell them. You have to fight for your choice. You’re stronger than you think.”
Lyra crouched in front of her. “You’re not alone in this. If they try to chain you down, we’ll stand with you. We’ll storm the office, the Matchmaker, whatever it takes.”
Kieran gave a sharp nod. “Exactly. You’re our family. And if they want to cage you, they’ll have to cage us too.”
Arden sighed, her arms relaxing as her voice softened. “I don’t like it, but… you can’t ignore them either. If you defy them, you’ll need a plan. You’ll need us.”
Elara’s throat tightened. Their words wrapped around her. For the first time since leaving the office, she felt the knot in her stomach loosened, just a little.
She whispered, “Thank you. I don’t know what’s coming, but… I’ll face it. With you guys.”
Lyra squeezed her shoulder, her grin returning fierce and protective. “Always.”
Kieran smirked faintly, though his eyes were serious. “And if the Matchmaker comes knocking, we’ll be ready.”
Elara lifted her gaze, determination burning beneath the fear. Ready or not, she thought, this is where everything will change.
