The get together was meant to be small, to be a sign of unity after the mess of recent weeks, But like everything in the pack, even a "small" event became a big deal, Wolves came together in the courtyard dressed in fancy clothes, talking softly, and looking at each other between drinks of cider and plates of roasted meat.
Elora stood near the edge of it all, holding Tarinne's hand gently, staying away from the main group. She hadn't been properly introduced, She wasn't anything official, not a Luna, not someone with a title, just the woman everyone talked about quietly.
And still, she felt the weight of every look.
Across the courtyard, Raydar was talking to the patrol captain, his face was hard to read, But now and then, his eyes moved toward her and didn't look away quickly enough.
Tarinne pulled on her hand, "Mama, That's where the snacks are."
Elora smiled softly, "Go ahead, Just one."
The girl grinned and ran off.
Elora slowly let her breath out and turned to move further into the shadows, but stopped when she heard him walking.
Raydar came closer quietly, his usual guards staying at a respectful distance, He looked tired, but not like he had given up, More like he was holding things together with just his strong will.
"I didn't think you'd come," he said,
"I wasn't sure I should," she replied, quietly,
Raydar looked at the others close by, then leaned a little toward her, his words just for her ears, "I wanted you to be here, I wanted them to see you."
She looked up at him, with her heart beating fast.
"I'm not trying to cause more trouble," she whispered,
"You're not," he said, while shaking his head, "They just don't get what it means to see strength in silence."
Then he turned toward the group and raised his voice a little, still soft, still measured, but loud enough to be heard,
"She's under my care," he said, "No one touches her, No one questions why she's here, Ever again."
The courtyard became quiet,
Some people tightened their Jaws, Some raised their eyebrows, But no one said anything.
Elora's heart beat hard, She wasn't sure if it was from the words themselves or the quiet power behind them.
Raydar looked at her again, This time, his face was open, "You won't have to run again, Not from me, Not from this pack."
It was gentle,
It was everything she had wanted to hear, and everything she was scared to believe.
But before she could answer, a cold voice cut in between them like a knife.
"How kind of you."
They both turned,
Janna stood a few steps away, her eyes shining with something sharp, not sadness, not jealousy, but anger.
She didn't make a scene in front of the others, Didn't raise her voice, She simply looked at Raydar and said, "We need to talk."
He got tense next to Elora,
Janna didn't pause for him to reply. She shifted and headed toward the rear hallway, the one that went to the special meeting rooms behind the main area.
Raydar looked at Elora again, uncertainty showing in his eyes.
Then he went after her,
Elora stayed still, the comfort of his word already disappearing as the murmurs started up again around her.
Something was going to fall apart,
And it wouldn't be a silent event,
The stone hall behind the yard repeated every footstep Elora made.
She shouldn't have trailed them, She was aware of this, But something in Raydar's expression when he went after Janna, that doubt, that hurt, stayed with her. So she went quietly through the dark areas, staying far back, until the door ahead opened a bit and voices filled the hall.
"You made me look bad," Janna's voice broke out, "In front of everyone."
"She should have been recognized," Raydar answered, "She's only ever protected our child."
"Our?" Janna scoffed, harsh and angry, "That child belongs to her, You didn't even know her name the night you made her, And now you want to stand with her in front of my people?"
Elora stopped by the door, her heart racing.
"You knew I had a curse," Raydar said, "You knew the link was stopped, You let it stay that way."
"I kept you safe!" Janna whispered fiercely, "I gave you steadiness, I stood by you when your wolf was wild, when nobody else would, And now you throw it all away for her?"
There was no sound,
Then Raydar spoke, more softly, "This isn't about her, or you, It's about what is just."
"She charmed you while her daughter was still sick," Janna said nastily, "Don't act like you're some great Alpha now."
"She didn't charm me," Raydar replied sharply, "She reminded me of who I was before everything changed."
Before the curse, Before being king, Before Janna.
Elora moved nearer to the door, hardly making a sound.
"Do you believe the group will take her?" Janna went on, her voice getting louder, "Do you think they will let you dismiss your Luna and have a barmaid take her spot?"
"She was always more than just a barmaid," he replied.
"You're an idiot," Janna said angrily, "And if you pick her, I will destroy you, I will tear this group apart before I allow her to have the title that should be mine."
There was a bang, something hit hard, Maybe a hand hitting a table, Maybe the hard truth finally hitting them both.
Elora couldn't handle it any longer,
She opened the door quickly,
They both turned to look,
Raydar's eyes got a little wider, but he stayed still,
Janna's eyes got smaller, "Of course you were listening in."
"I heard enough," Elora stated, walking into the room, "You've been hurting more than just food in this group, Janna, You've hurt people's feelings, And you'll ruin everything just to hold onto a title you didn't deserve."
Janna laughed with no joy, "Look at you, So confident, So brave now that you've got the Alpha's eye."
Elora didn't pay attention to her and turned to Raydar, "You said I wouldn't have to escape again. So show me it's true."
Raydar looked at her, something changing in his face , hurt, regret, desire, all mixed up together.
Janna moved between them, "You made promises to me."
Raydar looked at her, "And I stood by them."
"Then decide," she stated, taking a step back, "At this moment, Her or me."
The room became quiet,
Elora could hear her heart beating, Could feel the heat of his eyes on her skin, the link pulling, vibrating, asking to be together.
Raydar didn't say anything.
He didn't budge,
Not yet,
And Elora, just looked at him.
Waiting,
Not like someone begging,
But like the woman who'd already left once before.