Chapter 33: A Secret That Holds More than Words

CONNOR

Elaine’s body crashed into a nearby rock, splattering it with blood.

The gunshot’s echo reverberated around us.

This wasn’t a dream or an illusion. It was a nightmare, and I was stuck in it.

“Elaine?” I called out, scrambling toward her.

I growled, glancing back at the source of the shot. A shadow darted between the trees as Sorin and the rest of the patrol gave chase.

Sorin cast a worried look back before shifting and joining the pursuit.

I quickly turned back to Elaine, examining her wound.

“Elaine! Elaine! Wake up, Elaine!” I pleaded.

With shaking hands, I cradled her head. She was out cold.

Frantic, I stripped off her coat and tore open her shirt, revealing a massive wound on her shoulder.

Blood was pouring out like a mini waterfall, relentless. I frowned. Why wasn’t it healing?

Concerned for her, I scooped her up in my arms and sprinted back to the castle.

As we reached the entrance, the guards immediately called for help. Jyn and Blaze rushed down the stairs as I carried Elaine in.

“What happened?” Jyn asked.

“Hunters,” I replied tersely.

The pack doctors quickly took Elaine from me as I paced outside the room. My arms and hands were smeared with blood, making me feel sick.

The last time I saw Elaine bleed was when she lost the pup. And now, because of me, she was hurt again.

“Hunters are near our territory? What about patrol?” Jyn asked, anger in his voice.

“Sorin and the rest are tracking him,” I answered.

“And Elaine was alone?” Jyn asked.

“No!” I shouted. Groaning in frustration, I leaned against the wall. “She was with me. The shot was meant for ~me~, not her!”

“She got between the shot and you?” Blaze asked, shocked. I nodded.

I ran my fingers through my hair, feeling Khan’s desperate need for release.

We were both livid about what was happening to our mate, and even though we wanted to hunt that bastard down, our role right now was to stay by Elaine’s side.

Jyn stood in thought, and Blaze seemed restless. I was about to mind-link Sorin when the doctor stepped out of the room and called me in.

“Can I go in?” Jyn asked, but the doctor shook his head, dismissing him.

I stared at the doctor, confused. What was wrong?

“The queen’s lycan,” he began. “Reach for her lycan.”

“What?” I frowned.

“The queen isn’t healing because her lycan is dormant.”

I turned to look at Elaine, her face as pale as a ghost, her chest heaving. She had several bloody bandages wrapped around her torso.

“What do you mean her lycan is dormant? Ashina is there!” I argued.

“No, her lycan has been asleep for a few days now. Didn’t she tell you?” the doctor asked.

I moved closer to the bed, taking Elaine’s hand in mine. She was sweating profusely.

“Elaine and I aren’t talking right now,” I mumbled, staring at her damp hair. “We’ve been distant these past few days.”

The doctor sighed and turned to another door, calling for someone. I waited to see who it was, then I saw the pack’s healer walk in, a furrow in his brow.

“Elder,” I frowned. “Why are you here?”

The healer was an elder alpha who had lived longer than any other pack member or king.

“Your queen is in a critical state, Alpha,” he retorted. “And as a king, you have neglected her.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

The healer glanced at the doctor. They were mind-linking.

After a few moments of silence, the doctor left, and Jyn, with Blaze right behind, entered the room, greeting the elder with the same confusion I had.

“Alphas, it’s been a while,” he smirked.

I glanced at both alphas before focusing back on the healer.

“Why are we all here?” I asked, impatient for answers.

Right now, I was worried sick, since Elaine’s wounds weren’t healing at all. It was like she was just a regular human, nothing more.

“There’s one more person who I’ve summoned,” the healer answered, then took a seat.

Jyn shot me a look, but all I could do was shrug. We were all in the dark about what was happening. Who was the other person? I had no idea.

It might have been an hour before the bedroom door finally opened and Yuki walked in, half-soaked and naked.

His eyes widened as he noticed our small group, but he quickly shifted his gaze to Elaine, who had barely calmed down thanks to my touch.

“Finally,” the healer said, as Yuki frowned.

“Old man, why are you here?” Yuki asked as he approached Elaine.

“Well, I’m doing what I always do, solving the problems of kids who break the rules,” he responded, earning a few glares from the group.

The elder laughed at that, waving a hand and asking Yuki to sit near Elaine.

He seemed uncomfortable, as if he knew the elder better than any of us.

“Care to explain now what’s happening?” Jyn growled.

“Patience, Alpha. Everything in life requires some patience and time. But now, since we have all gathered, why don’t we start?” The healer smiled.

“You seem to be enjoying this,” I snapped.

He only chuckled, his green forest eyes studying me as if I was some sort of bug.

“You who seek have reconsidered, haven’t you?” he said, making me frown.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I hissed.

“Oh yes you do, child. A young boy, what are you? Twenty? Seeking the throne just to show his father that he could be him.

“Even though she’s your age and wants the throne, her reasons are different,” the healer said with a smirk.

“Have you ever wondered why your mate is so desperate for the throne that she’d sever her ties with the Moon Goddess?”

“What?” Jyn whispered. I stood there, shocked, staring at the elder.

I let out a growl, letting Khan take over.

“What the hell are you talking about?” I warned him. “You’re speaking about my queen and your queen, the leader of this pack that you’re a part of!”

“I’m not part of this pack, Alpha,” he shot back. “I stopped living here when I became the temple’s guardian.”

I furrowed my brows.

I’d heard of old pack members who were given the chance to be guardians in the Moon Goddess’s temples.

The Goddess blesses and gifts those she chooses. One of those gifts is the ability to summon the Moon Goddess at any moment to clear up a misunderstanding.

“Do you realize what you’re saying?” Blaze growled. “You’re badmouthing my family, elder!”

“I could sentence you to death!” I snapped.

“Would you?” he smirked. “The one who could die here would be her.”

Fear crept into my body, making the hairs on my neck stand up. I started shaking, trying to push that ominous warning out of my mind.

It was unsettling, since we all knew someone like him wouldn’t lie.

“What proof do you have?” I asked, my jaw clenched.

“Proof? I have Alpha Yuki.” He pointed with his slender hands.

We all turned to look at Yuki, who had been silent until now. His head was down, his hands resting awkwardly under his thighs.

“What is the elder talking about, Yuki?” Jyn asked, as I waited for his answer.

The room was tense, as if his answer could change Elaine’s situation.

“Why don’t you tell them why Elaine’s life has been so hard? Why did the Moon Goddess punish her? And why did her wolf go dormant?” the elder smirked.

Yuki didn’t say a word.

“Are you still scared, like back then?” he continued. “A coward who hides behind his own cousin? Your whole family is full of cowards.”

“Shut up, elder!” Jyn snapped. His claws gripped the armrest of his seat. “You’re slandering my family name. If you don’t want a war with us, you’d better watch your words!”

“Oh, what a temper, child. As an elder and guardian, I have more authority than you, after the king himself,” he hissed. “You can’t touch me if you don’t want the Goddess's wrath on you.”

Jyn’s jaw clenched as his lips shut tight. His lycan was itching to break free and attack the elder. But so far, everything the elder had said was true.

If Jyn did anything to him, his whole family could die.

“What do you know, Yuki?” I asked, trying to ease the tension in the room. “I need to know what you know. Why is the elder so sure Elaine cut ties with the Goddess?”

Yuki swallowed, then turned to look at me.

His pale face was filled with fear as he looked between Elaine and me. His eyes wavered as he finally opened his mouth.

“Have you ever wondered why Elaine hasn’t been healing well after losing the pup?” Yuki asked, his voice strained.

“Have you ever thought about why, even though Elaine has agreed to be your mate, she doesn’t fully accept the mate bond?”

“Yuki, what are you talking about?” Blaze said, looking at us with worry. “Elaine is sick. She hasn’t had enough rest.”

“Yes, but there’s a reason,” Yuki snapped, silencing Blaze. “Don’t you find it strange that even though you both have been fighting or getting hurt, the heat season isn’t affecting you as it should?”

The room fell silent as I slowly turned to look at Elaine.

Half of what Yuki had said was true. Elaine and I hadn’t felt anything, not after the day we arrived at the Sakura Pack, and then it disappeared.

“We all know she won’t accept the bond because she hates Connor,” Blaze interjected. “Elaine despises him. We all know it.”

Yuki scoffed.

“Yes, she does, and with all her heart. But there’s another reason as well,” Yuki responded. “You might not like it.”

I frowned.

“Yuki!” Jyn growled with a warning. “Don’t you dare lie!”

“Cousin, I don’t have to. I’ve been with Elaine from the start. I know everything. Things I can’t ever forget,” Yuki muttered.

“Forget what?” I asked, swallowing hard.

Yuki looked up. His eyes held the look of someone ready to betray his cousin.

“You’ll never be her mate,” he whispered.

“That’s ridiculous!” I snapped.

“Calm down, Connor,” Jyn said, standing up.

“You’re not a god here to say that!” I snapped. I got closer to him, my nostrils flaring.

“He might not be, Alpha, but he knows one of the truths,” the elder said, smirking at me. “One that might drive you mad.”

“What do you mean?” Blaze asked.

His eyes scanned the group before he looked at Yuki and smiled.

“Go on, child. Tell the king why his beloved ~mate~ will never love him,” the elder chuckled.

Khan came forward, shifting and ready to attack the elder.

I reached for his robe, but Yuki stood, pressing his hand against my chest.

“Connor!” he pleaded.

I huffed, turning away from them.

“Yuki, please, I beg you, what are you trying to tell us?” Jyn asked, stepping between us.

With a sigh, he sat back down on the stool.

“Elaine will never be Connor’s mate,” he mumbled, his head down.

“Why?” I managed to choke out the word. “Why are you so certain?”

His silence only fueled my anger. I grabbed his shirt, my fingers digging into the fabric.

“Say something!” I demanded.

Yuki lifted his head slowly, letting out a weary sigh.

“Because Elaine’s real mate is Sorin.”