Elara’s POV
“Don’t come near me—I mean it!” Miela shrieked, stumbling backward as Vessa took a step closer.
Vessa smirked, arms crossed, her eyes locked onto Miela like a wolf circling prey. “Or what? You’ll throw your tiara at me?”
“I’m Direstone Keep Pack’s princess!” Miela barked, the shrill pitch of her voice bouncing off the canyon walls. “I have three brothers–big ones! Don’t lay a hand on me!”
That made Vessa snort with laughter. She doubled over, hands on her knees, shaking her head.
“Princess? Please.” Vessa jabbed a finger at Miela’s chest. “Your parents work admin jobs. You wouldn’t even qualify as an Alpha’s coffee runner.”
Miela’s face flushed red. “Thorne and his family adore me!”
Vessa rolled her eyes. “Maybe back home. But here? This is Blood Moon Pack. No one here worships spoiled brats with zero backbone.”
That hit hard. Miela’s bravado cracked as her gaze darted to the cliff behind her–one more step, and there’d be nowhere left to run.
When she didn’t respond, she turned with practiced pitiful eyes to Cael. “Alpha Cael… please. You’ve heard about my condition. I can’t do cliffs. I’m too
Cael blinked, looked at her like she was an odd bug under a magnifying glass, and said flatly, “I don’t know you.”
Miela flinched. Her mouth opened, but nothing came out.
“Don’t talk to me again. You’re messing with my lunch appetite.”
I swear, if Vessa had a drink, she would’ve spat it out from laughing so hard.
Before Miela could spiral into another dramatic fit, Vessa grabbed her collar and yanked her forward.
“Seducing other people’s men is your hobby, huh?” she hissed. “No one’s ever set you straight?”
Miela clawed at Vessa’s wrist. “No–wait–I didn’t-”
Vessa leaned in. “Then let this be your first lesson.”
With one hard shove, Miela let out a piercing scream–and tumbled backward, over the cliff.
I surfaced from the dive, gasping. My lungs burned, but the cold water helped drown the noise in my head. For a brief moment, everything was still.
Until a splash erupted behind me.
A firm hand gripped my shoulder, steadying me in the current.
“You alright?” Thorne’s voice, deep and low, was right beside my ear.
I flinched instinctively at the contact. The water, his closeness–it all made me feel off balance.
“I’m fine,” I muttered, shrugging off his hand. “Thanks, Alpha.”
I turned to face him, heart steady but eyes cautious. Water trailed down his sculpted chest and jaw, shimmering in the sun like he’d just walked out of a painting. I hated that he still looked like this. It made things harder.
His expression shifted. “I owe you an apology.”
1/3
15:09 Mon, 28 Jul G
Chapter 15
My breath caught. Was this really happening?
“For what?” I asked evenly, though I could already hear the disappointment galloping toward me.
He sighed. “For Miela. Her behavior’s been out of line. I hope you’ll be patient with her. She’s young… and she’s your sister.”
And just like that, the disappointment arrived.
Of course it wasn’t about what he did to me. It never was. His world still revolved around Miela.
“She’s not my sister,” I said firmly. “Not anymore.”
His brow creased. “Come on, Elara. That’s a bit extreme. You don’t have to be cruel.”
Cruel? Cruel was letting your mate die while you watched from a distance. Cruel was picking Miela every single time, without hesitation.
I didn’t say any of that. I didn’t need to.
On shore, Alaric waved. “Elara! You good? Want a hand?”
I smiled and raised a hand. “Be right there!”
I started to swim away, but Thorne grabbed my arm again.
“You’re going with him?” His voice was tight, annoyed. “We’re not done here.”
“You’re the one who finished it, remember?” I yanked my arm free.
Just then–another loud splash.
We both turned.
4分30%食
Something–or someone–had fallen in.
Beneath the water’s surface, I could make out Miela’s flailing limbs. She was choking on every wave, spinning, trying and failing to keep her head above.
Panic jolted through me, but I didn’t move.
She wasn’t drowning. Not yet.
And she was a werewolf. She could swim. She should swim.
But she didn’t. Her flailing got worse, more chaotic.
“Thorne, go,” I said, teeth clenched.
He didn’t hesitate. He dove like a bullet, cutting through the water, heading straight toward her.
I swam to the shore, pulled myself up with Alaric’s help, and turned back just in time to see Thorne dragging Miela toward the rocks.
She coughed violently, hair soaked and makeup smudged. Her white dress clung to her like wet tissue, torn and completely ruined.
“I–I almost died!” Miela sobbed into Thorne’s chest.
Thorne’s jaw tightened.
“She was pushed!” Miela cried, pointing accusingly at Vessa. “She tried to kill me!”
“Oh please.” Vessa was already climbing up beside us. “If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn’t have missed.”
2/3
15:09 Mon, 28 Jul GS
Chapter 15
“You’re a monster!” Miela snapped, clinging to Thorne like a leech.
Vessa smirked. “You’re welcome.”
I turned away, tired.
Tired of Miela’s games. Tired of Thorne’s half–apologies. Tired of being dragged into drama that should’ve ended the day I was left to bleed alone.
Cael came up beside me and handed me a towel. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I said, even though I wasn’t sure what I felt.
Not hurt. Not sad. Just… done.
I glanced once more at Thorne–kneeling beside Miela, trying to calm her down–and then turned away.
He made his choice long ago.
And I was finally ready to stop caring.
AD
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