Chapter 261
Chapter 261
Elara’s POV
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“Since when did he become so…cold?” The thought gnawed at me as Thorne’s expression remained as frozen as ice. His usual warmth was nowhere to be found, and the chilling air between us was making my skin crawl. It didn’t help that Judith, with all his innocence, was tugging at Thorne’s sleeve.
“Don’t scare Lady Alara. I promise, I’ll be good with her.” Judith’s voice was soft, almost pleading, his wide with a mix of hope and childish fear.
eyes
The cold mask on Thorne’s face cracked just slightly, replaced by a faint, almost unreadable smile. He ruffled Judith’s hair before speaking. “I know you will. So while I’m tied up in meetings, you stay close to her, alright?”
Judith’s eyes brightened, and before I could even process the words, he asked, “Can I come to the screening?”
“The screening?” Thorne’s confusion was clear as he glanced at Judith.
“You know… the screening of your Luna!” Judith exclaimed, his voice eager, his little hands clasped together like he was praying for a miracle. “The elders want you to make a decision soon, right? Can I come and meet those women? I have a lot of advice to offer!”
My heart skipped. “What did he just say?” I asked myself, eyes wide.
Thorne… getting married?
I glanced at Medline, who was just as stunned as I was, but before we could discuss it further, a knock interrupted. The servant’s words hit me like a thunderclap: “The King requests your presence.”
“What is this about?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. But the servant didn’t answer–just a stiff nod, ushering me toward the packhouse.
Medline tried to follow me, but she was stopped by another servant, and I was left to walk the path alone, my mind racing.
What did Thorne want with me? Had he discovered my true identity? Or worse, did he realize who Judith really was?
The closer I got, the heavier the weight in my chest became, I could barely breathe.
Inside the packhouse, I faced Thorne. He didn’t speak immediately, just stared at me with those unyielding eyes. My voice cracked as I asked, “My King, I… I don’t know why I’m here. Did I do something wrong?”
Before Thorne could respond, Judith, as always, dashed forward and flung himself into my arms. “You’re going to be my new nanny! Aren’t you happy?” His words, pure joy, made me blink in surprise.
“Wait, what?” I pulled back slightly, my heart leaping in my chest. “You want me to be his nanny?”
Judith’s smile widened as he grabbed my hand, his tiny fingers squeezing with excitement. “Yes, yes! You can stay with me all day long, forever!”
10:13 Mon, Sep 22
Chapter 261
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I stared at him, my mind racing. Of course, I wanted to stay close to him. The thought of being apart was unbearable. But becoming his nanny… that could give me an official position, a way to stay in the packhouse without suspicion.
That meant easier access to Judith–and the chance to sneak him away from here when the time came.
I nodded slowly, my voice steady. “It would be my honour, Your Majesty.”
Judith’s joyous shout filled the room. But before the happiness could sink in, Thorne’s voice sliced through
the moment.
“Not so fast.” His tone was like ice. “You haven’t passed my interview yet.”
My heart skipped a beat, and I could feel Thorne’s eyes boring into me as he walked toward me. His gaze was sharp, calculating, as if he could see straight through me.
“What’s your full name?” he asked, voice low.
I hesitated. My stomach churned. “J… Elina Alara,” I managed to say, my words shaky as I willed myself not to give in to the terror creeping up my spine.
Behind me, footsteps echoed. I froze. Cael and Vessa entered the room.
“Thorne, who is this?” Cael’s voice was full of curiosity.
“This is Judith’s new nanny, Elina Alara,” Thorne replied smoothly, his gaze now shifting between me and them. “Elina, meet Alpha Cael and Luna Vessa.”
I slowly turned, dread building in my chest. The moment I looked into Cael’s eyes, I knew.
He recognized me.
Cael’s eyes widened, and the tension between us thickened. He was trying to hide it, but I could see the flash. of shock in his expression.
“Elina Alara?” he repeated, his voice strained.
I could feel the blood drain from my face. I had to act fast.
“Yes,” I said quickly, forcing a smile, I am from the Obsidian Pack, daughter of Lord Alara.”
Thorne raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. “You’re sure you don’t know her, Cael? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Cael’s voice cracked as he cleared his throat. I… I must’ve met her father. She looks like him.”
“How can you tell, Cael? She’s wearing a mask Thorne’s suspicion was palpable. His eyes narrowed as he focused on me, his voice colder than before. “So, Lady Alara, what do you look like under that mask?”
I froze. There was no way I could take it off. I couldn’t risk him seeing my face. Not when he still hated me, when he had no idea who I really was.
10:13 Mon, Sep 22
Chapter 261
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“I… I’d rather not, my King,” I stammered. “I… I have a burn scar on my face. It’s… it’s not something I’d want to show you or Judith.”
Thorne snorted. “You think I’ll be scared of a scar?”
He moved closer, the intensity in his eyes increasing. My breath caught in my throat. This wasn’t good. If I didn’t take it off, I’d lose my job. But if I did, he might find out who I really was.
“Lose the mask.” Thorne’s voice was low, commanding.
I could hear the coldness in his words, but I couldn’t give in. The silence was suffocating, but just as I opened my mouth to protest, Vessa’s voice cut through the tension.
“I believe Lady Alara’s face is a tragic story, Thorne,” she said gently. “Why not let the past rest?”
“Yeah, Thorne, cut her some slack,” Cael added, his voice soft. “Not everyone is comfortable revealing everything, you know?”
Thorne frowned, his gaze flickering between us. “It’s for Judith’s safety,” he muttered, though his frustration was evident.
Judith piped up. “I don’t mind the mask!” he said, his voice bubbling with innocence. “My new nanny can wear it if it makes her happy!”
Vessa stepped in again. “I’ll talk to Lady Alara personally to make sure she qualifies as a nanny. Is that okay?”
Thorne let out a frustrated sigh. “Fine.”
He glanced at the clock, his shoulders slumping as he finally gave in. “If the damn mask means so much to you, keep it on.”
“Thank you, my King,” I whispered, relief flooding through me.
With a curt nod, Thorne turned and walked toward the door. “I have other meetings. Luna Vessa, you’ll handle this?”
“Of course,” she replied, her smile warm.
As soon as Thorne was gone, the room erupted in a collective sigh of relief.
I didn’t even wait for anyone to speak. I rushed to Cael and Vessa, tears welling up in my eyes. “I missed you both so much!”
We held each other, all of us trembling with emotions long buried. It had been eight years. Eight long years since I’d been taken away from them without so much as a goodbye.
Judith, curious as ever, looked up from his toys. “Why are you crying? And why does your voice sound funny?”
I wiped my eyes quickly, forcing a smile. “Go play, Judith. I need to talk to Uncle Cael and Aunt Vessa, okay?”
As he toddled off, the room grew quiet, and Cael’s voice broke the silence.
10:13 Mon, Sep 22
Chapter 261
“That’s Dorian’s child, isn’t it?” His words were heavy, laced with concern.
“Did Dorian abduct you? Force you to have his child?” Vessa asked urgently.
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I opened my mouth to answer, but no words came out. I was trapped. The vow I had made–one I couldn’t break.
But my silence spoke louder than anything.
Cael’s face twisted with rage. “That bastard!” he muttered, fists clenched. “I swear, I’ll kill him.”
“Do you need our help, Elara?” Vessa asked, her voice soft but filled with worry. “Please, don’t leave us again.”
I looked at them, torn. The vow, the secrecy–it was all suffocating me.
Finally, I nodded. “I need to take Judith back to the Lycan world. It’s the only place where he belongs.”
They both looked at me, their faces pale with shock. But they knew better than to argue.
“Just don’t let Thorne find out about me and Judith,” I pleaded. “Once Judith is settled, we’ll leave quietly.”
The weight of the promise hung heavily in the room. I had no choice.
“Okay,” Vessa whispered.
“If that’s what’s best,” Cael added quietly, his eyes full of helpless fury.
AD
