~ELARA~
"You can't be serious right now, Aaron. We're married, this mate-searching nonsense is over. I'm your wife now!" Enor's cry broke like her voice was glass; trembling as if she might collapse any moment.
Before I could even understand what was happening, my father stormed forward and slapped me hard across the face. The world spun around me; the sting exploded across my cheek. My hand instantly flew to the hotness of my cheek, shock and humiliation colliding all at once. Jeremy grabbed my arm first, and held me steady, fury already flaring in his eyes as he turned on my father.
Aaron didn't hesitate too. He growled, low, in the most dangerous way I'd ever seen, and his eyes flashed red, a hot, animal glare that made the air feel thinner. Jeremy didn't get to make any move before Aaron reacted. In a heartbeat his hand was at my father's throat, his fingers digging in like he wanted to tear him apart.
AARON
I didn't know what came over me when Thomas struck my mate, but Kael erupted before I could even think, his claws and fury surging through my bones like he wanted to break them apart. I felt him move through me, his snarls vibrated in my chest like it came from two throats, angry and immediate, my fingers still clutching at Thomas' neck as if to stop the man from breathing.
My vision burned red like a flame.
"How dare you hit her!" I roared. My veins stood out along my neck like cords, every inch of me ready to snap at once.
"Please, Aaron…" Enor tried to stop me, grasping my arm. Her touch only threw gasoline on the fire.
"Get your fucking hands off me!" I tore her grip from my skin and threw her away.
Thomas didn't move beneath my hold; he just choked silently, his eyes wide. Jeremy stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me, trying to restrain what I felt ready to unleash. I stared at him, my chest heaving, teeth bared, and my blood rage in my throat.
"Control yourself, Aaron," Jeremy hissed close to my ear. "Hurting the Stone Pack Alpha won't fix anything. Please… Let him go."
I could have strangled him. I swear, I wanted to.
Instead, I reached for Kael, felt the wolf like a live thing inside me, and forced him down with every ounce of will I had. "Calm down, Kael," I breathed into the link we shared. "Thomas is my mate's father. Don't make me lose it now."
'But he struck her. I can't allow it,' Kael answered, his claws flexing in my gut.
"Please," I told him. "...For her safety."
Slowly, the red began to fade from my vision. The animal claws unclenched. My grip loosened and I let Thomas drop lifelessly to the ground, my chest heaving with the residue of a fury that had wanted blood.
I stared down at him, still trying to steady my breath, the heat of anger burning through my veins. "Did you hide her away because you knew she's our mate?" My voice came out rough, scraped raw from the growl sitting in my throat.
Thomas rose slowly, dusting off his clothes with infuriating calm. A faint, smug curl tugged at the corner of his lips before he answered.
"Elara is human, Aaron. She doesn't have a wolf. It's impossible for her to be your mate." His gaze slid toward Jeremy. "Am I right, Jeremy?"
Jeremy stiffened. I caught the flicker in his eyes, like he was holding something back.
"He's right," he said finally, his voice even but a little strained. "Elara's human. Maybe you… confused her scent or something."
I barked a humorless laugh. "Don't give me that shit, both of you. You saw what happened. You saw how I almost lost control. That's not confusion, that's the bond." I took a step forward, my voice deepening, sharper. "So you better start explaining why I can't get her scent out of my head."
The air went dead still, and no one said a word.
Until Elara's voice cut through the silence.
~ELARA~
"Please, you guys should just stop this nonsense!" I yelled before I even thought about it. "Do you all realize the person you're talking about is standing right here in front of you?"
"Elara, just stay out of this. Please, let me handle it."
I wished those words had come from Jeremy. Maybe I would've listened. But hearing them from Aaron only made my blood boil hotter.
A short, bitter laugh slipped past my lips. "You'll handle it?" I echoed, my voice dripping with disbelief. "You're telling me to stay out of something that literally concerns me? Are you joking right now?"
"Elara, stop it!" Jeremy barked, his tone sharp.
"No, don't tell me to stop, Jeremy!" I shot back, fury rising. "Tell him! I've been standing here listening to all of you talk about me like I'm invisible. Like I'm some ghost hovering in the dark! And now he's saying I should stay out of it? Is that a joke?"
"Dad, please tell Audrey to take Elara away before she creates another mess," Enor cut in, clutching Father's arm like a helpless child.
Was she serious right now? She wanted his guard to bounce me out of here?
"You know who's the mess here, Enor?" I snapped. "You! You can't do a single thing right, not even keep your man, and somehow that's my fault?"
"All of you, stop this nonsense. Now!" Aaron's voice thundered, sharp and commanding. Instantly, silence fell.
Without breaking the same commanding tone, his eyes locked on me. "You," he said, his tone colder and heavier than before. "You're coming with me. Now."
Jeremy's gaze flicked between us. I saw the brief panic in his eyes before he forced a stiff smile, silently signaling me to obey.
I wanted to argue, to shout, but my body refused to move. Aaron turned and started walking away, and I barely took a step before a sudden wave of dizziness hit me like a punch.
My vision blurred a little. My stomach twisted painfully. I clutched my midsection, gasping.
Then I heard it.
"You can finally hear me now, Elara."
The voice wasn't out loud, it was like I heard it inside my head.
What?
I froze, panic clawing at my chest. It wasn't my own thought. Maybe someone, or something, had spoken.
Before I could make sense of it, another stab of pain ripped through me. My legs buckled, the world spun, and darkness swallowed everything as I collapsed to the ground.