9. Elisabed

9

Elisabed

It had been two days since the cave. Two days of hard travel, the alphas leading me through forests and rough terrain, never once complaining about traveling in our human forms.

It had also been two days of quiet moments. Something about sharing a nest in the cave, huddled together against the storm, seemed to have softened the edges between us. Our wolves had come together, even if our human forms hadn’t caught up yet. I still didn’t trust them completely, but I could feel the tension easing slightly. They gave me space when I needed it, and though they weren’t perfect, their presence wasn’t as suffocating as before.

When Marshall returned from a scouting mission that morning, the alphas had gathered in a low murmuring conversation, thinking I wasn’t close enough to hear them. But I was—I couldn’t help it. I’d learned to be aware of their words, even when they thought I wasn’t paying attention.

“He’s close,” Marshall said, his voice low.

“Who’s close?” Finn’s sharp tone was tinged with impatience.

“Raol,” Marshall muttered, his face serious. “Or at least his pack. This is Carlisle territory.”

My chest tightened. Carlisle territory—where I had lived with Raol. My blood ran cold as I absorbed the words, their meaning settling heavily in my gut. I hadn’t realized we were anywhere near this place, but it made sense now—the strange wariness in the air that had settled over the alphas these past few days. They were being extra cautious for a reason, and now I knew why.

“We should let her see them,” Marshall’s voice softened, breaking my thoughts. “Her family left the day before we did. From what I can gather, they left right after August and Elisabed saw them. They should be home by now, and she deserves to see them again.”

Why had my family returned so soon? I’d betrayed the pack, marring my family’s name, and they would be pariahs here. They should have stayed longer in neutral territory until everything calmed down and the pack started to forget what I’d done.

Why would Raol accept them back? What was he planning?

I felt the heat of their gazes, but I didn’t look up. I stayed still, pretending to focus on the rough path ahead of us while my heart thudded in my chest.

Finn scoffed. “You think letting her see them will fix everything?”

Marshall’s expression hardened. “You’re the one who keeps saying she’s pissed at us. Do you want her to stay angry forever, or do you want her to forgive us?”

I almost laughed at that, but August’s voice cut in firmly. “If we’re doing this, it has to be done right. I’ll go with her.”

“Why you?” Marshall challenged, his brow furrowed.

“Do you want me to remind you of the last thing you said to Raol?” August asked calmly. “It had something to do with his head being a paperweight. And we both know Finn’s approach wouldn’t do her any good.”

I could feel their tension without looking at them. But something about this, the way they were talking, was different. It wasn’t about keeping me in line or controlling me. They were actually considering what I wanted—what I needed.

The thought made my chest tighten in a way I wasn’t ready to acknowledge.

***

It wasn’t long before August led me toward the village while the other two hung back, keeping a wide berth in case Raol or his wolves were nearby. The walk wasn’t far, but each step felt like I was dragging my own weight uphill.

When we arrived at the house, the familiar view of the small, worn-down structure caught me off guard. It looked the same as when I had left, with the porch sagging slightly and the windows dull with layers of dust and time.

August hung back, standing like a sentinel a few paces behind me. “Go ahead,” he said, his voice steady.

I hesitated at the base of the porch steps, my fingers trembling slightly as I knocked on the door. The sound echoed in the stillness.

The door creaked open, and there he was—my father.

“Elisabed,” he said flatly.

“Father,” I replied, keeping my voice even, our last conversation hanging over our heads.

He stood there for a moment, as if debating whether to let me in, but a quick look at August behind me convinced him to step aside.

There was tension in the air, but neither of us said anything. My mother was sitting at the table, her back stiff, her hands folded neatly in front of her. She didn’t look up as we entered, and I could feel the weight of her silence press against me.

Before I could say anything, I heard small footsteps running down the hallway.

“Lis!”

Now that my mother wasn’t keeping her in check, Mily’s small body collided with mine, her arms wrapping around me with the force of a small hurricane. I caught her easily, pressing her close, trying to steady myself against the rush of emotions flooding my chest.

“I missed you,” she whispered, her voice muffled by my coat.

“I missed you too, Mily,” I said, my own voice shaky.

She pulled back, eyes wide and searching. “Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be with the council alphas back in neutral territory? Where are you going? You’re not staying here, are you?”

I forced a smile, even as guilt twisted in my chest. “It’s...complicated. But no, I’m not staying here. I just came to see you.”

Her lip quivered, her brow furrowing as she processed my words.

“Has anyone given you any trouble?” I asked, dropping my voice to a whisper.

“We haven’t really seen anyone,” she whispered, glancing over her shoulder to make sure no one was listening. “We’ve just stayed inside and kept to ourselves since we got back.”

I frowned. “Has Raol tried anything?”

“No,” Mily reassured me. “He’s stayed away. Dad says he’s busy with pack stuff.”

Relief flooded through me, and I hugged Mily tighter. “Good. I’m glad you’re okay. But you have to promise me something, Mily. You have to stay away from Raol. And if he gets too close...just do as I taught you. Are you still carrying the little blade I gave you?”

She nodded solemnly. It broke my heart the day I handed Mily a blade and showed her how to use it. I managed to sneak it out of the store I worked at despite every bone in my body saying it wasn’t right—Mily was too young to think about blades and fights—but I knew I had no choice. Raol was taking an interest in my family, and I wouldn’t leave Mily defenseless.

It was the one benefit I got from my silent wolf. Raol didn’t see me as a worthy omega if I couldn’t shift, so he let me work as long as he received part of my wages. It was a better fate than that given to most mature omegas in my pack.

“I carry it everywhere with me. I’ll be okay, Lis,” Mily said, though her voice wavered with uncertainty. “You don’t have to worry about me.”

I cupped her face in my hands, my heart aching. “I’m always going to worry about you, Mily. I need you to stay safe. Promise me.”

“I promise,” she said softly, which was enough for me.

With a deep breath, I finally looked at my parents. They watched our exchange with unreadable expressions and scowled when I turned to face them.

“I don’t expect much from you, but now that I’ll be far away, you must protect her. Don’t let her out of your sight; always accompany her everywhere. Please.” My voice broke at the plea. Even if they trusted Raol, it shouldn’t be a hardship to stay with Mily. They were her parents, for fuck’s sake. I shouldn’t even have to tell them this.

They didn’t seem pleased, but at least my mother nodded.

“We’ll keep an eye on her,” my father finally muttered, but it felt like an empty promise.

My throat was tight with emotion, and I excused myself, unable to stay in front of them any longer. The house felt suffocating now, the walls too close, the silence too heavy. I walked upstairs to my room, trying to gather my thoughts and not to drown in the emotions that threatened to overwhelm me.

My old room still smelled faintly of lavender and dust. The bed was unmade, the nightstand piled with books I hadn’t touched in years. I spent all my spare time working or with Mily, and I never had time to read. I opened the wardrobe and pulled out a bag, packing a few things—familiar things. There was something comforting about my old clothes, even if I didn’t need them anymore—Finn had seen to that.

As I folded a shirt, I felt a presence behind me.

August.

“You’re taking a lot for someone who’s got a whole wardrobe waiting for her,” he said quietly, his voice calm but with an edge I couldn’t quite place.

“These are mine,” I replied, still not looking at him. “I need them.”

He didn’t speak for a moment, but I could feel his eyes on me, reading me. “You’re upset,” he finally said.

I froze, the tension in my shoulders increasing. “No shit, August.”

He moved closer, his presence filling the small room. “It won’t help, you know.”

I glanced at him, my gaze sharp. “What won’t help?”

“This.” He gestured vaguely at the room, at me, at everything. “Holding onto all of it. You won’t make this easier by pretending it’s not hurting you.”

I clenched my jaw, trying to fight the tears gathering in my eyes in vain. He moved closer until he was a breath away from me and slowly swept his thumb over my cheek, taking the moisture with him.

I opened my mouth to answer him, but before I could, he grabbed me by the waist, pulling me against his chest.

“Allow me to make you feel better, Elisabed,” he muttered, his voice low and hot.

“August,” I gasped, my breath catching in my throat. The sheer feeling of his body so close to mine made me blind with lust. I wanted him. I’d wanted them since the first time I’d had them, and I didn’t think I had the will to resist them any longer.

Without a second thought, I pushed myself to the tip of my toes and plastered my mouth on his.