Elara's POV

The next morning, the smell of roasted meat filled our chamber. Kaelen had woken up before dawn to cook for me. He placed a silver tray on the table, loaded with roasted venison and sweet berry pastries. He cut the meat into tiny pieces, just the way he had done for the past three years.

He picked up a piece with his silver fork and brought it to my lips. "Open up, my love," Kaelen coaxed gently.

I sat still, staring into the darkness of my act. Across the table, Selena let out a loud, dramatic sigh. She crossed her arms and pouted, making sure Kaelen noticed her displeasure. She hated that the Alpha was serving a useless, blind woman.

Kaelen's eyes darted toward Selena. I felt the subtle shift in the air as his mind reached for hers. My White Wolf senses allowed me to feel the private current of their Mind-Link, a secret I had always kept from him.

Do not be angry, my beautiful Beta, I felt Kaelen's mental voice soothe her. I will give you the eastern hunting grounds as compensation.

Selena's pout turned into a triumphant smirk. She stood up from her chair, smoothing down her tight dress. As she walked past Kaelen, she deliberately drew her long, manicured fingernails slowly across his thigh. Kaelen's breath hitched, and his eyes darkened with lust.

I pretended I saw nothing. I turned my head away from the fork he was still holding. "I am not hungry for meat," I said flatly. I picked up my own silver fork and blindly poked at a pastry, eating it in silence.

By nightfall, Kaelen took me to the river that flowed through our territory. He had rented a massive royal ferry for my birth festival. The wooden deck was glowing with the light of blue magic crystals. Noble wolves from our pack were gathered, drinking wine and laughing.

Kaelen held my hand tightly, leading me to the front of the ship. "Do you remember this place, Elara?" he asked, his voice thick with emotion.

I looked down at the wooden planks. The entire deck was covered in thick layers of black rose petals. It was the flower I was allergic to, but it was Selena's absolute favorite.

"This is where I marked you," Kaelen whispered, pulling me against his chest. Marking was the ultimate claim, the moment he sealed our souls by sinking his fangs into my neck. Kaelen buried his face in my neck, right over the scar of his bite. I felt a warm tear drop onto my skin. He was actually crying, moved by his own romantic memories.

I felt nothing but disgust.

Suddenly, the crowd went quiet. Selena walked onto the deck, wearing a scandalous, high-end silk gown that left nothing to the imagination. She walked straight up to Kaelen and ignored everyone else. She grabbed his free hand and intertwined her fingers with his.

"It is time for the show, Alpha," she announced loudly. She started counting down from ten. When she reached one, a massive explosion echoed in the night sky. The magic crystals shot beams of light into the clouds. Fireworks exploded in brilliant shades of red and gold.

I looked up at the sky. Every single firework burst into the shape of a coiled snake. It was the family crest of Selena's bloodline. He was so utterly enthralled by her that he had allowed her to hijack my own birth festival right before my eyes.

The noble wolves gasped and began whispering among themselves. Kaelen looked at the sky, his face turning pale. A pack messenger suddenly ran up to him, bowing low. "Alpha, there is an emergency," the messenger lied, reciting a script Kaelen had clearly prepared. "The border defense needs your immediate command."

Kaelen turned to me, his face a mask of fake regret. "I am so sorry, Elara. The Pack needs me," he said quickly. He let go of my hand and called for a low-ranking Omega maid. "Take care of the Luna," he ordered the frightened girl. Without waiting for my answer, he turned and walked quickly toward the lower cabins. Selena followed right behind him, her hips swaying.

I stood under the exploding fireworks of my rival's family. I told the Omega maid I needed to rest and sent her away. Then I turned, and followed that cloying scent of black roses down the dark stairs, a scent that now seemed to cling to the wooden handrails like a greasy film.