Chapter 26: One Cruel Reality

CONNOR

The car was filled with a heavy silence as we made our way to the next pack. Elaine had been given the all-clear by the doctors, but she was eager to leave. I could tell she was hurting, but she was doing her best to hide it. She looked worn out, her skin pale and dark circles under her eyes. It was as if she was trying to shield herself from the pain, but the facade was starting to crack.

The rest of my pack was just as quiet. Even when we said our goodbyes to the alpha and his pack, there was a cold distance between us. The silence was suffocating. I needed to hear something, anything, to break the tension. But no one spoke, not even Regulus or Elaine. I knew she needed her space, but the silence was unsettling.

“We’re almost there, my king,” my driver announced. I simply nodded in response.

I glanced over at Elaine, who was fast asleep. Her head was resting against the window, her hands folded neatly in her lap. I felt a pang of guilt. I wanted to apologize, to beg for her forgiveness. It was a strange feeling for me. I wasn’t one to ask for forgiveness, but right now, it was all I wanted.

My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. It was a text from my father, reminding me of the impending heat and the savage need for release that would soon follow. I quickly turned off the screen. His reminders were the last thing I needed right now.

I ran a hand through my hair and turned back to Elaine. She was awake now, her eyes wide as she stared out at the forest. I followed her gaze to a tall tower-like building.

“That’s the pack?” I asked.

“Yes, that’s the Crescent Moon Pack,” our driver confirmed.

“Wow,” Elaine whispered, her voice barely audible.

I looked out at the towering building with a sense of awe. It was a sight to behold, a tower in the middle of the forest.

As we approached the pack’s entrance, Elaine suddenly ordered the car to stop. Everyone, including her brother, turned to look at her in surprise.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

Without a word, Elaine got out of the car, her eyes fixed on the open fields. She seemed lost in thought.

“Elaine?” I called out, slowly approaching her.

“Let’s shift,” she said quietly. Before I could respond, she was already heading towards a nearby cliff.

I quickly mind-linked the rest of the pack, telling them to go on ahead. I followed Elaine, my mind filled with questions.

“Why do you want to shift?” I asked, but she didn’t answer. Instead, she undressed and shifted into her wolf form. I quickly followed suit, leaving my clothes on a nearby rock.

~“Elaine!”~ I called out in her mind, but there was no response. She still had me blocked.

We ran for about ten minutes before we reached a massive waterfall. It was near another pack, one that I wasn’t familiar with.

“The Sakura Pack,” Elaine said once we had shifted back.

“How do you know?” I asked.

“I’ve been here a few times,” she replied, not looking at me. “I’m going there.”

“Wait,” I said, reaching out to grab her arm. She snarled at me, her teeth bared.

“Don’t you fucking touch me, Connor!” she hissed. “Don’t you fucking lay a hand on me!”

I raised my hands in surrender. I didn’t mean to upset her. I knew she was still angry with me, but I was worried.

“Talk to me, Elaine,” I said gently. “Why do you want to go there? We’re supposed to stay in Crescent Moon.”

“I have something to take care of there,” she said. “You can come with me or face the consequences.”

With that, she shifted back into her wolf form and dashed across the river.

***

“I can’t believe this!” a woman with white hair exclaimed, her face lighting up with joy.

We had crossed the river and entered the Sakura Pack’s territory. The patrol that greeted us looked surprised to see us.

“Please, come in,” the woman said, waving us forward.

“Who is she?” I asked Elaine.

“The pack leader, your highness,” one of the warriors replied. I frowned. I was under the impression that the Sakura Pack’s leader was a man.

Elaine seemed to be getting along well with the woman. They were chatting and laughing like old friends. We followed them to a large, three-story building.

“Forgive me for not introducing myself sooner,” the woman said, turning to face us. “It’s an honor to meet the king and queen of our packs. My name is Yuki, the pack leader and alpha of the Sakura Pack.”

“The alpha?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “I thought the alpha of this pack was a man.”

Her eyes, the color of a clear summer sky, lit up at the mention of that. A smile danced on her lips.

“I’m a guy,” Yuki said. I squinted, confused.

“Come again?” I laughed. How could this person possibly be a guy?

The long, white hair that made it seem like she was a child of the Moon Goddess, those sky-blue eyes that held an air of mystery, skin as pale as fresh snow, a slender frame, full pink lips, and rosy cheeks were all distinctly feminine.

So I couldn’t figure out where any of this suggested a man.

Even the way she carried herself and the way she’d hugged Elaine earlier made me more certain that she was a woman, not a man. And let’s not forget the kimono she was wearing.

“Yuki is a guy,” Elaine chimed in. Her icy gaze was fixed on me.

I could see the resentment in her eyes. She was trying to hide her discomfort, her anger, her hatred from everyone but me. Her feelings were clear as day.

“Sorry,” I sighed, rubbing my temple. “I just can’t see you as a guy.”

“Well, that’s rude,” Yuki retorted, rolling her eyes.

She moved closer to Elaine, whispering something before glancing at me, her gaze steady.

After finishing her hushed conversation with Elaine, I tried to read Elaine’s expression. But as I looked at her, a sudden movement caught my eye, and I jumped out of the way.

I looked down to see a long sword embedded in the ground, vibrating from the impact.

Stunned, I stared at the massive sword that gleamed under the sun. It was humming. Where did that come from?

“Not bad.” Yuki smiled. She grasped the handle and pulled it out from the ground with ease. “Should I test him, cousin?”

“Do whatever you want.” Elaine waved a hand dismissively. Wait, did she just call Elaine her cousin?

“Surprised?” Yuki asked, tilting her head. “It seems the king isn’t well informed about the queen’s family.”

“Elaine?” I called, but she turned and sat on a bench, completely ignoring me.

Yuki lunged at me with her sword. I backed away, narrowly avoiding the long sword she wielded with skill.

Dodging her swift movements was a challenge. But with every push she gave, I was losing sight of Elaine. Why was she doing this?

“Eyes on your enemy,” Yuki hissed, her face inches from mine. I groaned as something sharp grazed my arm.

I slid to the ground, looking up. Yuki was smiling, her sword resting on her shoulder as if it was second nature.

“It seems your eyes can’t stop following my cousin,” Yuki said, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Before she could attack again, something tackled her.

I frowned as dust particles filled the air, obscuring the view of the two people fighting. There were a few growls, then someone laughed.

“All right, I give up!” Yuki burst into laughter. I waved my hands to clear the dust from my view.

“Regulus, enough,” Elaine commanded.

I squinted as the dust settled and the two figures came into view. Yuki was patting Regulus’s shoulders.

She stood up, offering a friendly hand, which Regulus accepted.

“You never change,” Regulus chuckled, dusting off his clothes.

“Of course. That’s what sets me apart from every other alpha,” Yuki explained. “Now, should I apologize?”

“No,” Elaine interjected.

“Elaine, that’s no way to treat the king. Our alpha deserves respect.” Yuki’s sarcasm was hard to miss.

A few of our warriors chuckled, but a growl from me quickly silenced them. Their heads bowed in respect as I approached Yuki and Regulus.

“Why do I get the feeling I’m missing something?” Yuki frowned. Her gaze shifted between Elaine and me.

“We should head back,” Elaine sighed after an awkward silence.

“So soon?” Yuki asked, dusting off her clothes. As she approached us, I noticed a large tear in her kimono.

My eyes darted to the chest of the person. Firm pectorals and abs marked her body along with a tattoo.

“I told you,” Elaine said before turning on her heels. “We’ll be back in a few days, Yuki. Please do as I asked of you.”

“Of course, my queen.” Yuki bowed with a smile.

I stood there, stunned, staring at him.

“Let’s go, your highness.” Regulus pulled me out of my daze and nudged me to follow the rest.

“I’ll see you in a few days, my king,” Yuki said, but the smile he shared told me Elaine had shared something of what happened, because it was no longer a friendly smile. It was a warning.