Elara's POV
The sound of wedding bells nearly knocked me to my knees.
I ran toward the main hall as fast as my shaking legs could take me. The bells were ringing loudly, echoing through the entire pack house. People were cheering and clapping somewhere ahead of me.
No, no, no. This couldn't be happening. Not yet. I still had time to stop this.
I burst through the doors of the main hall and froze.
There, at the front of the room, stood Kaelen in his black wedding suit. Next to him was Cerys in a flowy white dress that sparkled like diamonds. The pack's elder was holding their joined hands and saying words I couldn't hear over the roaring in my ears.
I was too late.
"Do you, Kaelen Duskhowl, take Cerys Stormveil to be your mate for life?"
"I do," Kaelen said clearly.
My heart shattered like glass hitting concrete.
"Do you, Cerys Stormveil, take Kaelen Duskhowl to be your mate for life?"
"I do," Cerys said with a big smile.
"Then by the power of the moon goddess, I now pronounce you mated for life!"
The crowd burst in cheers. Kaelen leaned down and kissed Cerys. It was a long, deep kiss that made my stomach turn.
I couldn't move. I couldn't move. I just stood there watching the man I loved kiss another woman while his baby grew inside me.
Someone bumped into me from behind.
"Excuse me, miss," an older woman said. "Aren't you going to congratulate the happy couple?"
I turned and ran. I pushed through the crowd of happy people and ran as fast as I could. Tears poured down my face as I stumbled up the stairs to my room.
But when I got there, I found someone waiting for me.
Mrs. Hartwell sat on my bed with a sad look on her face.
"Oh, child," she said softly when she saw me crying. "I heard what happened downstairs."
"He married her," I sobbed, falling into her arms. "He actually married her."
"I know, sweetheart. I know."
"But I'm pregnant with his baby!" I cried. "How could he do this to me?"
Mrs. Hartwell pulled back and looked at me with wide eyes. "Pregnant? Are you sure?"
I nodded. "I've been sick every morning for a week. And I can feel it, Mrs. Hartwell. There's something growing inside me."
She put her hand on my stomach. "Oh, child. What are you going to do?"
"I don't know," I whispered. "He called it another man's kid. He doesn't want us."
"Then he's a fool," Mrs. Hartwell said strongly. "But that doesn't change your situation. You can't stay here, Elara."
"What do you mean?"
"Think about it. Kaelen is now mated to Cerys. When she finds out about your pregnancy, do you think she's going to let you stay here? With proof that her new husband was with another woman?"
My blood went cold. She was right. Cerys would see me and the baby as threats to her marriage.
"She'll hurt me," I whispered.
"Or worse," Mrs. Hartwell said sadly. "You need to leave, and you need to leave tonight."
"But where will I go? I have no money, no family."
"You have me," Mrs. Hartwell said, squeezing my hands. "I've been saving money for years. It's not much, but it's enough to get you far away from here."
Before I could answer, we heard footsteps in the hallway. Heavy, angry boots.
"Hide," Mrs. Hartwell whispered, pushing me toward the closet.
I squeezed inside just as the door burst open.
"Where is she?" Cerys's voice was like poison.
"Where is who?" Mrs. Hartwell asked innocently.
"Don't play games with me, old woman. Where is the little omega who thinks she can ruin my wedding day?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
I heard Cerys walking around the room. "She was in the hall. I saw her watching my husband kiss me. Did you see her face? She looked like someone had torn her heart out."
"Perhaps she did," Mrs. Hartwell said softly.
"Good," Cerys snapped. "She needed to learn that some women get the prince, and others get nothing."
Through the crack in the closet door, I could see Cerys picking up my things and throwing them on the floor.
"My husband told me about their little affair," she continued. "Two weeks of playing house. How sad. Did she really think he would choose her over me?"
"Maybe she loved him," Mrs. Hartwell said.
Cerys laughed coldly. "Love? Is that what you call it when a frightened omega throws herself at an alpha? She was nothing but fun for him. A toy to play with before he settled down with a real woman."
Each word felt like a knife in my chest. Was that really all I had been to him? A toy?
"Well, playtime is over," Cerys said. "And if I find out she's spreading lies about carrying his child, I'll make sure she regrets it."
My hands flew to my mouth to keep from breathing. She knew. Somehow, she already knew about the baby.
"You can't threaten an innocent girl," Mrs. Hartwell said bravely.
"I can do whatever I want," Cerys responded. "I'm the Luna now. And if that little omega is smart, she'll leave before I decide she's too much trouble to ignore."
The door slammed shut.
Mrs. Hartwell quickly opened the closet door. "You heard her," she whispered anxiously. "You have to go. Now."
"But it's dark outside. And I don't know where to go."
"Anywhere is safer than here," Mrs. Hartwell said, grabbing a bag and putting my clothes into it. "There are stories of kind rogues who live in the forest. Maybe you can find them."
"Rogues?" I felt scared. "But they're dangerous."
"Not all of them. Some are just wolves who decided to live free instead of under an alpha's rule."
She pressed a small bag of coins into my hands. "This should last you a few months if you're careful."
I hugged her tightly. "I'm going to miss you."
"I'll miss you too, kid. But you're strong. You'll survive this."
I put on my coat and picked up the bag. At the door, I turned back to look at her.
"If... if anyone asks about me..."
"I'll tell them you left to visit family," she said strongly. "No one will know the truth from me."
I nodded and opened the door.
The hallway was empty, but I could hear music and laughing coming from downstairs. The wedding party was still going on.
I crept down the back stairs and out through the kitchen door. The night air was cold against my face.
As I walked toward the bush, I turned back one last time to look at the pack house. Light poured from every opening. Everyone was celebrating Kaelen's marriage.
Everyone except me.
I put my hand on my stomach. "It's just you and me now, little one," I whispered. "But we're going to be okay. Somehow, we're going to be okay."
I took a deep breath and stepped into the dark forest.
Behind me, a wolf howled in the distance.
But I didn't know if it was calling for me or warning me away.