Chapter 6

Elara

The dank, oppressive darkness of the space pressed in on me. The air was thick with a metallic tang and the scent of something decaying, which filled my nostrils and made my stomach lurch. The only light that filtered into the room was through a barred opening. It cast long, skeletal shadows across the room. The shadows only worsened my fear.

The rough, damp stone beneath me pressed against my back, and I huddled on the cold floor, desperate to get some warmth back into my freezing skin. Tears fell freely down from my eyes, and I struggled to control my shaky breath, hoping to stay awake longer and not give in to the exhaustion.

I knew this place all too well. It was the cramped, windowless cell that Silas had carved into the cold stone beneath his mansion. This room was every Siren's biggest fear. Every punishment was different, and sometimes one could never know for sure when it would end. He pushed us to the very limits and each scream, each tortured plea, only ever worked to fuel him.

Why was I back here?

Did Silas' hunters find me within Kai's pack, or did he give me up to them himself?

"How did you think you could escape from me, little dove?" Silas' menacing voice filled the room, and I gasped, forcing myself into a sitting position. I scanned the room, but the darkness and the shadows dancing within it made it difficult to find Silas' sinister face.

"You'll never be able to escape from me, Elara! You'll always be mine!" The words echoed through the room on repeat, bouncing off the stone walls, causing me to fold even more into myself as I sobbed heavily.

The air rushed from my lungs in a strangled gasp as a jolt ripped me away from the suffocating darkness. Gasping, I bolted awake, sheets tangled around my legs. My heart hammered a frantic rhythm against my ribs. It was almost like a drumbeat echoing the terror that clung to me like a shroud. Sweat slicked my skin, chilling me despite the oppressive heat that seemed to radiate from within me.

I fought to catch my breath, my chest tight with a pressure that I couldn't escape. Images, stark and horrifying, flickered behind my eyelids. The remembered stench of decay and fear hung heavy in the air.

But it was only a dream, and relief flooded through me at the realization, easing the terror coiling through me. I looked around at the beautifully draped curtains and the soft rug. The familiarity of my surroundings instantly made me relax into the soft and comfortable bed with a sigh.

I was safe, here in Kai's home. For now, at least.

I sat up slowly, careful of my side and I ran a hand through my damp hair. The warmth in the room felt wonderful compared to the coldness that had terrified me from my dream. It had truly felt like I was back within his grasp and the fear that I had felt was still palpable.

Would he really find me here? Would Kai and his pack protect me from Silas' wrath if the day came when he unleashed it on them? Or would they give me up for the sake of their own peace?

I scoffed at my thoughts, sniffing when the realization that they might pick the latter option occurred to me. Why would they protect me? Silas was the most feared man I knew, and I saw the way his guests treated him with such reverence. He was powerful and it would be stupid to underestimate what he could do. Why would Kai and his pack risk so much just to protect me?

I needed to leave this place as soon as possible. Anyah had said that I needed rest and my wounds needed time to heal. My plan was to stay here until I had healed enough, then I would be on my way. I needed to get as far away from Silas as I possibly could, without bringing war down on Kai's pack. I owed them that much.

Plus, there was this talk about a prophecy.

The memories from yesterday came flooding through my mind. They caused a shiver to run up my spine. No one had given me answers to the millions of questions I had wanted to ask. Not Anyah, or Kai, or the maids that had been sent to tend to me after the healer left.

All that had surrounded me were whispers and sideways glances, especially toward the mark on my neck. I had carefully chosen items from the new clothes that I had been given that would effectively cover the mark on my neck. It had done nothing to help. I couldn't avoid the curiosity and suspicion that brimmed in everyone's eyes and it made me wary. It was an unsettling experience, and it was enough to convince me that I didn't belong here.

I had escaped from one hell. I wasn't about to hang around in another one. I hadn't almost lost my life to attain freedom for nothing and this prophecy, whatever it was, didn't look very promising for my goal of escape.

Sighing heavily, I pushed myself out of bed, wincing at the sharp protest from my various wounds. Taking a deep breath, I grabbed onto the edge of the bed, balancing myself on my good ankle before limping my way toward the bathroom that was connected to the room. I stopped by the mirror, and the sight of my reflection shocked me. There were bags under my eyes and bruises marred my pale skin.

I was almost unrecognizable. I thought of the girl who had been so carefully groomed to maintain her beauty so that she could do Silas' bidding. I let out a breath once more before twisting open the tap and splashing some water on my face. The coolness of the water against my skin was a relief, and I felt much better afterward.

I knew that there was no way that I would be able to go back to bed now, so once I was out of the bathroom, I made my way toward the door, hoping to be able to get outside for some fresh air.

As I walked through the house, admiring the cozy and inviting I, I couldn't help but notice the warmth and comfort here that contrasted sharply with Silas' oppressive mansion. There was just something about the colors and themes here that made me feel better. The house was quiet, and the only sound that filled the space was the rhythmic ticking of a clock.

As I stepped out of the house, a wave of crisp, early morning air washed over me. The scent of rain mingled with the earthy aroma of damp soil. It was a welcome change from the suffocating air that had formed around me in the room. The pack's house was magnificent, just like I had expected. I looked around at the spring flower beds, the water fountains and elaborate statues, and the serene environment, all of which confirmed that Kai's pack was prosperous.

As I descended the steps, my gaze fell on a small garden nestled beside the house. I immediately began drifting toward it. As I got closer, a vibrant herb garden came into view. Rows of lavender, rosemary, and mint unfurled before me, and their fragrance calmed my racing heart.

I wandered through the garden, my fingers brushing against the soft leaves of the herbs before I settled in the middle of it, enjoying the scents that surrounded me. I felt a sense of peace settle over me.

"Beautiful garden, isn't it?"

I spun around, startled. A tall figure stood behind me. He was very handsome and had dark hair that fell in loose waves around his face. I noted his sun-kissed skin and his eyes, which were the color of melted chocolate. He had a small smile playing over his lips. I instantly felt at ease with him.

"It is. Sorry, I didn't hear you approach," I said, my voice guarded.

"I apologize," he said, his smile widening. "I'm Rhys. I didn't mean to startle you."

He edged closer as he spoke, and despite the pleasantness of his demeanor, I found myself instinctively wary. There was something about him, a flicker of familiarity in his eyes, that sent shivers down my spine. It was an unsettling recognition and a feeling I couldn't quite place, yet it stirred a yearning within me. There was something about it that felt similar to what I felt around Kai, and I fought to push it down.

"I'm Elara," I managed, my voice hoarse, but Rhys didn't seem to mind. He stretched out a hand to shake mine and I accepted it. The moment our fingers brushed against each other, I felt a burning sensation unlike anything I had ever experienced in my life. It caused me to retract my hand quickly.

Rhys' smile faltered, a flicker of something I couldn't decipher crossing his features.

"Are you a friend of Kai's?" I asked, and he chuckled, the warmth returning to his eyes once more.

"Something like that. I'm the head strategist within this pack, so we work closely together."

I nodded in understanding.

"Is he your friend?" Rhys asked, his voice teasing as he spoke, and I raised my eyes to meet his. I smiled when I saw mischievousness dancing within his hazel orbs. I laughed when he wiggled his brows playfully at me.

"Hardly," I finally responded, waving my hand slightly as I spoke. Rhys began laughing with me.

"He can be pretty intense, can't he?" he asked softly, and I nodded so quickly I feared my head might fall off my neck.

Rhys chuckled, the sound warm and friendly. "Fair enough. These gardens do have a way of putting you at ease, though." He gestured toward the rows of herbs. "Do you know your way around these plants? I hear some of them have medicinal properties."

I immediately perked up at his words. Any and every opportunity to talk about herbs always made me happy. "Yes! I do. I was so happy to stumble upon this garden. It even has some rare herbs like that nightshade," I said, pointing to the crawling plant in the very corner. "Did you know that if you were to mix that with rosemary, it would create a poisonous mix?" I asked, and Rhys' eyes widened at my words.

"Really? I thought nightshade was used to treat something else, umm what was it again?" He trailed off, and I giggled softly at the wrinkles that formed on his face due to how hard he was thinking.

"Allergies, as well as many other more serious conditions. It's one of the most potent and powerful herbs, which is why, if it's mixed with the wrong things, it can become very deadly. Do you know a lot about herbs?" I asked, and Rhys laughed, shaking his head as he spoke.

"I'm afraid not. I haven't had much occasion to learn about them. We usually leave the healing to Anyah," he responded and I smiled.

"Well, that's a shame," I said. "It's such a fascinating subject, and it's crucial for anyone wanting to understand nature better. This one here, for example, is chamomile. It's excellent for calming nerves, amongst other things," I said, pointing to a particular flower that sat just beside him.

Rhys hummed in understanding before he reached out and plucked the delicate white flower, holding it out to me. I hesitated for a moment, before cautiously taking it from him. The cool, soft petals brushed both of our fingers and it sent a warm, fuzzy feeling through me, one that made me blush to the tip of my toes.

We remained in silence for what felt like a long time afterward, the only sounds around us were the gentle rustling of the leaves and the distant croaking of frogs in the distance. I wondered what Kai had told him. They had to have talked about me at some point, and for a second, I was tempted to ask him what he knew about me and about this prophecy that was being connected to my presence in their pack.

But we had started off on such a good foot. I didn't want to ruin or change the flow of things between us. At least, not tonight.

"We don't know much about you. A much as I understand that trust might not be a luxury that you can afford right now, it's the only option we have. We'd like to help, but we need to understand what happened to you. You need to trust that we mean no harm to you and only want to help," he said so gently that I felt an ache in my chest.

I knew I couldn't tell him the truth. The thought of him knowing about my powers, about the darkness I harbored within me, filled me with dread. He wouldn't be this carefree with me if he knew that I could take hold of his mind at will. And even if I would never purposefully abuse my powers, I knew that he wouldn't see it that way.

Taking a deep breath, I thought through the words in my head before I began speaking. "I was…separated from my pack during a rogue attack a very long time ago," I said, my voice trembling slightly as I struggled to speak of the past so carefully. "I wandered around on my own for many years afterward, settling within smaller packs for short periods of time. I was trying to travel north when I stumbled into my attackers and they chased me for a long time. I finally stumbled upon your lands, and then I lost consciousness."

Rhys listened intently as I spoke, his expression unreadable. "What about your pack? Have you encountered any of them again over the years?" he asked, and I shook my head.

A flicker of sympathy crossed his features. He was being so warm and kind that it threatened to force the truth out of me. "I understand," he said softly. "We'll help you get back on your feet, Elara. You're safe here. I promise," he said softly.

His words were kind, but his eyes held a hint of doubt, just a tiny glint that I just couldn't ignore.

As I looked into his eyes, a subtle tug, a whisper of something more, pulled at the back of my mind. There was a certain energy that seemed to emanate from Rhys that I knew for a fact I had encountered at some point in my life. It was faint, yet undeniably real.

"Do I know you from somewhere?" I finally asked, trying to mask my unease with curiosity.

Rhys chuckled once more, before pulling himself to his feet. His muscles flexed as he moved, and it stirred something deep inside me that caused embarrassment to paint my cheeks.

"I don't think I would ever forget a face as beautiful as yours, Elara." He breathed out softly, a teasing smile playing on his lips. "It's pretty late. You should get some sleep" he said, giving me a little playful bow before making his way out of the garden.

I watched his retreating form. There was just something unsettling about the Alpha. Despite his calm and polite demeanor, he reminded me of Silas. I didn't think I wanted to find out why that could be.