Chapter 13
Elara’s POV
“She’s seriously coming too?”
Vessa’s voice was barely a whisper, but the venom in it could’ve melted stone. She jabbed a thumb backward, where Miela was tottering in heels–yes, heels–clinging to Thorne like a lost puppy.
“Let it go,” I murmured, tightening the straps on my hiking bag. “The waterfall’s open to everyone. I can’t exactly ban them.”
“We should ban them,” Vessa grumbled. “Or just leave them behind. I bet Miela doesn’t even know what a trail looks like.”
“I’m not being nice,” I said with a smirk. “I just don’t care enough to fight over it.”
She groaned and muttered something about needing garlic and stakes.
We were six in total: me, Vessa, Cael, Alaric, Thorne, and the last–minute tagalong duo from hell–Thorne and Miela. Or, more accurately, Miela and Thorne’s elbow, which she refused to let go of.
And of course, she was dressed in a flowing white sundress and strappy sandals–like we were strolling into a beach picnic, not trekkg up a mountain
trail.
Typical Miela.
It took me back to the days in Direstone Keep Pack, where she’d wear the wrong boots to hunts and throw tantrums mid–hike until i give up mine and limp back in blisters while she smiled pretty for praise.
Not today.
e reject–had to
We began the trail from the hotel, the canopy ahead opening to layers of misty peaks and wildflowers. The summer air smelled clean–pine and moss and something new. Birds chirped somewhere overhead, the only soundtrack to our footfalls.
Alaric walked beside me, full of questions and wide–eyed wonder. “Is that the waterfall ridge up there?” he asked, pointing beyond the treetops.
“Yeah. And if the sun holds out, you’ll see a rainbow from the overlook. Great photo spot,” I said, wiping sweat from my brow.
He beamed. “Your pack’s spoiled. I’ve got sand and cacti back horne. I’d trade Alpha duties to stay here permanently.”
Cael, just ahead of us, overheard and grinned. “Or you could just mate with a Blood Moon she–wolf. That’d solve your problem real quick.”
Alaric snorted. “Well, that does sound easier.”
Behind us, Miela’s footsteps crunched a little louder, and I
didn’t need t
to
around to feel the heat of her stare.
“Can you believe these guys?” Vessa whispered, keeping her voice low. “They’re drooling. How did Miela not explode yet?”
As if on cue, Miela chirped, “Elara! I didn’t know you were so knowledgeable about Blood Moon. I thought you were… new here.”
I didn’t flinch. “It’s been six months.”
Alaric blinked, glancing between us. “Wait–you didn’t grow up
“No. I was raised in another pack,” I said simply. Miela’s smirk was already forming, and braced myself.
“Oh right,” she said, feigning innocence. “Wasn’t it the one where you got rejected?”
A heavy silence fell like fog.
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Chapter 13
Miela giggled behind her palm. “Careful, Alpha Alaric. Where I come from, we call rejected women damaged goods.”
Even Thorne’s head snapped up.
Cael’s fist clenched. Vessa looked ready to hurl her water bottle at Miela’s skull.
“Seriously?” Alaric said, turning to me. “You were rejected?”
I didn’t lie. “Yeah.”
“Kidnapped too, right?” he asked. “Then came back and earned Gamma rank?”
I nodded again.
Alaric grinned. “Damn. You’re even cooler than I thought. Whoever rejected you must be the dumbest man alive.”
A laugh escaped my lips, genuine this time.
Miela’s expression cracked like thin ice.
And then Thorne moved.
He stalked over, grabbed Miela by the shoulder and hissed in her ear, “If you say one more word about Elara, I’ll have someone drive you back to Direstone Keep right now.”
He didn’t wait for a response before storming ahead.
Miela stood frozen, blinking back rage–until she let out a sharp cry and collapsed.
“Oh nooo,” she whimpered, rubbing her ankle. “I slipped…”
Vessa rolled her eyes so hard I thought they’d get stuck. “You’re wearing sandals, genius.”
“I didn’t think it would be this rough,” Miela whimpered. “I’m sorry for slowing everyone down…”
Then she looked up at me, eyes watery. “Gamma Elara, maybe you could… switch shoes with me? We’re the same size. You’re strong. You don’t need them as much, right?”
I walked over to her slowly, arms folded. “So, your sandals are the issue?”
“Yes! They’re just–wrong for this terrain…”
Without another word, I bent, yanked the sandals off her feet, and flung them over the cliff’s edge.
Miela screamed. “What the hell are you doing?!”
“They were the problem,” I said sweetly. “I fixed it.”
She scrambled toward the edge, shrieking. “Are you insane?!”
“You’re a werewolf, Miela,” I said, voice calm and cold. “Bare feet shouldn’t be a problem. You’ll manage.”
I turned back to the trail without a second glance, Vessa clapping slowly behind me.
Miela whimpered and stumbled after us, barefoot and furious.
Serves her right. I wasn’t the weak girl with bleeding feet anymore.
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