Chapter 14

Elara

"Still avoiding the Alphas?" Rose asked as she pulled open my curtains and I sighed, swinging my feet off the bed so I could sit at the edge of the bed facing her.

The week after my heat, Rose had quickly become one of my only companions and for good reason. I couldn't forget the end of my heat when my delirium had finally cleared up, and I realized the wanton way that I had behaved all through it. Even after an entire week, I was still too ashamed to face any of them. I couldn't believe how shamelessly I had acted. Memories of me begging for them to fuck me lingered in the back of my head, replaying over and over even as I tried to push them out.

The past few days had been a whirlwind for me. The embers of my heat, fanned by the searing touch of the Alphas, still flickered beneath my skin. It was a confusing sensation, an intoxicating mix of desire and trepidation unlike anything I had ever known, and for my sanity, I had decided to steer clear of Kai, Rhys, and Rowan.

Their potent auras around the house were still enough to send shivers down my spine, making me acutely aware of the raw vulnerability and arousal I felt around them. It wasn't a bad feeling, truth be told, and sometimes it felt too good to be true, but I didn't know how best to handle it. Having the attention of three men wasn't as easy as I had thought it would be.

And so, I had hoped that some distance would ease the simmering tension that crackled in the air whenever they were near, but it didn't exactly seem to be working. Although I wasn't physically in their presence, I could still feel when they were near in my mind. There was a constant thrum from within me whenever I caught a whiff of their scent or presence and hiding from them was starting to get exhausting. Still, I was determined to keep it up.

"I'm not avoiding them," I said dismissively, moving out of the bed and to the small closet in the corner to pick out some clothes. To my annoyance, Rose followed me.

"You're not? Then why have you been hiding by yourself in this room? Having your meals by yourself? Pretending to be asleep whenever any of them come to talk to you? Only stepping out of the room after you confirm that they are all out of the house?" she pushed, and I sighed, turning to face her.

"You don't understand, Rose. I can't ever look them in the eye again. Never again," I said, and the older girl sighed, moving forward to take my hands into hers.

When I realized that Rose had known about the Alphas taking care of my heat, my embarrassment had tripled, but it was impossible to avoid the maid as easily as the Alphas because she was very stubborn and had a way of getting into my space before I could push her out. Plus, she made sure never to mention the incident. It made her my biggest accomplice in trying to avoid the Alphas so that was an added advantage.

"There might be a lot of things that I don't understand, Elara, like the whispers about the prophecy and how it connects back to you, but one thing that I understand for sure is how much you've come to mean to the Alphas in such a short time. This past week, I've had to watch the disappointment in each of their eyes every time they've asked after you, and I've had to say you were sleeping or tell some kind of lie. I think it'll be best if you just stop avoiding them," Rose offered, and her words began a storm in my mind again. I simply gave her a smile before nodding my head and moving toward the bathroom.

As I brushed my teeth by the sink, my eyes fell on the marks on my neck from the past week. The sight of them never fails to send a shudder through me and this time is not an exception.

Somehow, the Alphas had managed to mark me in a way that all three marks seemed to be connecting. I brushed my fingers against the largest one. It was Rhys' and a jolt of pleasure ran through me as my fingers brushed against it, making me shake my head slowly to clear it before forcing myself to focus on the task at hand.

Something had also shifted within me. It was not just physical; it felt deeper than that. It felt as though a newfound sensitivity hummed beneath my skin and there was a constant simmering presence roaming around my mind. It also seemed to open up my senses, as if I could hear much better. My sense of smell also seemed to be sharper than what I remembered. It scared me, but I had no idea what it meant.

After I finished brushing my teeth, I took a quick bath. I dressed in comfortable clothes before heading out of my room in the direction of the kitchen. It was way past breakfast time, and I knew that the Alphas would all be out of the house, so I was free to wander around until it was time for them to return home. It was almost comical how the past week had forced me to be attuned to their routines. I was always in my room in the morning before they went out and later in the evening when they returned.

"Good morning," I called when I walked into the kitchen and a round of good mornings went up from the other maids. Some of them had become quite friendly with me, and their gentle smiles and soft voices made me relaxed enough to walk further into the kitchen.

"I was just about to come get you. It's almost time for lunch, but you haven't had breakfast yet. Would you like some pancakes?" Rose asked, and I nodded, moving to settle on one of the seats that surrounded the island.

"You're dressed up. Are you going somewhere?" I asked Rose, noting that she was dressed up more than usual.

"I'm just wearing some jeans and a shirt," Rose said, laughing softly. I joined her.

"I know. That's why I say you're dressed up. You never wear jeans in the house," I responded. She raised her hand in surrender, making me laugh.

"Fine, you caught me. I'm just going to the packs' local market. I need to stock the house with some fresh food," Rose said as she mixed the pancake batter. I immediately perked up.

"Can I come with you? Please?" I quickly added, moving off the seat so suddenly that I hit a cup that had been left to dry on the island and it tumbled off the edge I surprisingly caught it before it could come in contact with the floor. The speed at which I moved shocked me, and when I turned, Rose had a similar look of shock in her eyes but she didn't say anything about it.

"I wish you could. But the Alphas will have my head if they find out I took you out of the house," she responded, moving to the stove to heat a pan.

I frowned at her words, why would they be upset that I left the house? I wasn't a prisoner here. Or was I?

"I'm not a prisoner here, right?" I asked, and Rose lifted her eyes to look at me for a second before returning her attention back to the pan to flip the batter she had poured. For that second, I had seen the surprise in her eyes at my question.

"Of course not. You're a guest here. Why would you think you're a prisoner?"

"Then why can't I leave the house?"

"Well, you can b-but…" she trailed off, stuttering like she was trying to find the right words.

"But what?" I pressed, and Rose sighed, switching off the stove before turning in my direction to speak.

"Elara, the circumstances surrounding your situation are rather difficult. I'm not sure you understand how potent your scent is and how dangerous that can be for you around the males. Since you came here, the Alphas have had to dismiss the guards that stay inside and around the house just to protect you and them. That goes to show how sensitive this situation is," Rose said, and I nodded, sighing in defeat at her words.

She was right, of course. I didn't want to put the maid in a difficult position.

"You're not a prisoner here and you can most definitely wander around as you want. As much as I'd love to be your guide and show you all the fun places within the pack, I don't think I can give you the protection that you'll need. Right now, the pack members haven't had a proper introduction to you. All they know are the rumors that reach their ears, and I can't predict what their reactions will be if they run into you. I can't risk finding out," Rose explained, and my shoulders slumped in defeat.

"So does that mean I won't ever be able to leave the house because of my scent?" I asked, and she smiled, moving in closer to me and bringing her tone down as if to whisper a secret.

"Well, maybe you can ask someone else," she said, looking behind me in the direction of the door. That was when his scent filled my nose.

Rowan.

"Here's your breakfast," Rose said, winking at me before moving to place the plate of pancakes on the table before exiting the kitchen.

I turned to face Rowan, and my heart almost dropped into my stomach at the sight of him. He was leaning against the doorframe with his hands folded and his long, pretty hair left to flow down his back and shoulders. He was shirtless and only had a pair of sweatpants on. His muscles were glistening with sweat, which brought back a certain image in my head from my dreams. My cheeks flushed red, and I looked away. His eyes also held a blank look, one that was so different from the way that he had looked at me the last time I had seen him. The thought broke my heart a little.

"H-hi. I didn't realize you were home," I squeaked, my voice coming out higher than I intended. I looked away, unable to meet his eyes. It felt like it had been so long since I had seen the Alphas and my heart twisted with guilt at the realization.

"You would have remained locked up in your room if you knew, huh?" he asked, his tone sharp as he spoke. The guilt that I felt multiplied.

"I…" the words got stuck in my throat, and I fought the tears that were stinging at the back of my eyes. It suddenly felt like the weight of the situation between us after the long week of my heat finally crashed down on me, and it made me emotional.

Rowan crossed the space between us in one long stride, and when he was standing in front of me, he lifted my chin with his fingers. When we locked eyes, I felt a tear slip down from my eye. His touch made the thrumming underneath my skin come alive again, and it made a shiver run up my spine. It also made me more aware of the connection between us. It felt strange and familiar at the same time. As if my soul was made to know it. He caught the tears with his fingers before it could roll any further down my cheek. His eyes were softer than before, and they mirrored the sadness in my own.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound so harsh. It's just been a long week," he apologized, and it finally felt like I could breathe easier again, although my sadness didn't ease.

"I'm sorry. I know a part of it is my fault. I just felt so embarrassed and thought it would be best to avoid you all," I said, my words coming out in a rushed mess as I tried to express myself, but Rowan simply shook his head.

"You have nothing to be embarrassed about, Elara. You were so beautiful and perfect for us, and we wouldn't change anything that happened for the world. We've just been so worried about it, thinking we did something wrong," Rowan explained, and my eyes widened in shock. I quickly shock my head at his words.

How could they think they had done anything wrong? They had gone beyond helping me during my heat. They had taken care of me, adored and worshiped my body, while also feeding my mind with the most positive emotions that chased away some of the darkness. They had been perfect, and I felt even more terrible that my actions had convinced them otherwise.

"You did nothing wrong. I-I was just being foolish. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get you so worked up with my actions," I apologized genuinely, and Rowan pulled me into his arms, instantly making me relax.

His scent was so blissful. It was like earth after it rained and I shamelessly took huge sniffs of him, making him chuckle at my actions.

"You're disgusting. I'm drenched in training sweat," he said teasingly as I pulled away and stuck my tongue out playfully at him, making him laugh.

"It's not my fault that even your training sweat smells so good," I said and he shook his head at me, a playful smile dancing at the edge of his lips.

"What were you discussing with Rose? I heard something about asking someone else?" Rowan asked, moving to the fridge to pull out a bottle of water which he drank in one gulp.

"I wanted to follow her to the market, but it's okay. She explained it's too dangerous."

I moved to settle at the island to eat my breakfast and Rowan came to stand close to me again. He was too close to me and it made me pause with my hand in midair before I raised my eyes to meet his. I expected him to say something, but he didn't. He only continued to watch me, and so I offered him the piece of pancake on my fork. His face broke into a smile as he accepted it with a grateful smile before walking out of the kitchen.

I continued to enjoy my breakfast alone, and I was almost done by the time Rose walked into the kitchen again with a sparkle of excitement in her eyes.

"So, what did he say?" she asked, and my brows furrowed.

"Say about what?"

"About going to the market? Didn't you ask him?" she said, and I shook my head.

"No, I didn't. It's okay, I don't want to put him in a difficult position. I think I'll hang around here today. Maybe soon enough, things will change."

I still felt a bit sad that things had to be this way, but I understood it, and I was ready to be patient to let time do its work. Rose smiled at my words, and she was about to respond when Rowan appeared in the doorway. His long hair was now up in a man bun, and he was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.

"Are you ready?" he asked, stealing the last piece of pancake from my plate.

"Hey, that's mine…ready for what?" I asked, but he was already moving out of the kitchen. I exchanged a look with Rose, her surprise mirroring mine. I rushed to place my plate in the sink before running after him, surprised that he was already out of the house.

"Are you letting me go to the market?" I asked excitedly and Rowan laughed, a deep, hearty laugh that made me feel warm.

"Yes, I am. Who else will be a better bodyguard?" he responded and I threw my fist in the air in celebration.

"Don't look so excited about it. Kai will not be happy about this, so we better get going and be back before he arrives," he urged. I paused before turning back toward the house.

"Where are you going?" Rowan called after me, but I didn't stop.

"To get Rose," I called back.

Thankfully, the maid was already walking toward me, and I simply held onto her and pulled her with me, ignoring her protests.

The drive to the market seemed to be a completely different route than the one we had taken to the administrative office. The street was also bustling with activity, a stark contrast to the serene quietude of the other areas on pack property. Children chased each other down the street, and the sounds of laughter reached my ears. The air thrummed with a vibrant energy. I felt a flicker of something I hadn't felt in a long time—a sense of belonging.

The local market was buzzing with activity when we arrived. The air hung heavy with the earthy scent of fresh produce and the tantalizing aroma of grilling meat. I trailed beside Rose, who thankfully held onto me as we walked. My senses felt overwhelmed. I couldn't remember what it felt like to live in a normal pack and engage in normal activities, and so everything felt new to me.

Curious eyes followed my every move and whispers danced around me, but I could feel Rowan's warm presence behind me as he led me through the market. It felt very comforting and reassuring, making me even more grateful that he had come along. Although the stares weren't hostile, more curious, it still made me feel on edge.

As I walked, snippets of conversation reached my ears.

"That's the Omega girl…"

"I heard she bears the mark of the prophecy…"

"So it's true…"

Rose squeezed my hands to comfort me, and I offered the girl a grateful smile. "You're like a celebrity!" she gushed in a hushed tone, and it made me laugh.

The people around were pleasant and polite when they attended to us. No one tried to ask me any questions or grab me, thankfully. I couldn't tell if it was Rowan's intimidating presence hovering around that was responsible or something else.

"Hello, Rose. HI, Elara," one of the women whose stall we stopped at greeted us. I recognized her as one of the council officials from the meeting weeks ago and I offered her a small, shy smile and a wave.

Fearful that she might me hostile toward me, but she returned my smile with a bigger one and it managed to slightly put me at ease.

"What about me, Freya? Don't I deserve a greeting, too?" Rowan asked playfully, and she smiled.

She was sweet while she attended to us and even gifted me some fruit once we were done, which I really appreciated.

We spent several hours walking around the market and buying various things. By the time we eventually made it home, it was past lunch.

"Thank you for taking me," I said to Rowan as I stepped out of the car and he pulled me closer to him, planting a kiss on my lips that sent a flurry feeling through my body.

"You're welcome. I have to get back to work now. Remember, this is our little secret," he said with a wink and I giggled, nodding my head in understanding before pulling away.

I turned around and began walking back toward the house.

"Elara," Rowan called once more, and I paused in my steps, turning around to face him.

"Talk to Rhys and Kai. They miss you," he said and my breath seized in my throat. I nodded, giving him a small wave which he returned, before I turned back around, continuing into the house.

His words filled my mind all the way to my room, and I thought about the best way to approach the other two Alphas. Rowan had been easy because he had found me.

Exhaustion filled me as I settled on my bed to take off my shoes, it felt like a long time since I had done any sort of physical activity, and my body seemed to be protesting at my long day. Without even bothering to change out my clothes, I settled onto my bed and sent a silent prayer to the Goddess to give me the strength to face the Alphas later during dinner. I closed my eyes and willed sleep to take over.