<b>CHAPTER </b>26


    The entire Vanguards Pack charged in andunched their attack on the ogre from every possible direction, biting and wing until the creature began shrieking and yelping from the pain. It was clear the ogre couldn’t speak, but it also couldn’t handle the full force of the pack.


    It began kicking wildly at the wolves, trying to knock them away as it slowly backed off, clearly intent on escaping. Then it turned and took off, running back toward the trees from where it had first appeared.


    The pack let out a victorious series of howls, celebrating the win, but my attention shifted to Elias, who was still watching me instead of the ogre.


    “What’s wrong?” I asked Elias through the mind link.


    “How are you able to mind link with me? You haven’t even been initiated into the pack yet,” he


    replied, clearly confused.


    “I’m royalty,” I said calmly, like it was something I had always known. In truth, it was only something I’d learned since turning sixteen–since everything about me had chang


    “Well, you’re one stunningly beautiful wolf,” he said as he started walking toward me, while the rest of the pack quietly slipped away, giving us space.


    “What do I look like?” I asked curiously.


    “You’re white. With a ck star right on your chest,” he exined, his gaze moving across my form. I lifted my paw to get a better look, and sure enough, my fur waspletely white. But I also knew it was time to shift back, and I felt nervous about doing that in front of others. It was my first time, and unlike most wolves, I hadn’t grown up around shifting–or the nudity


    that came with it.


    Fortunately, a couple of Elias’s warriors came back in their human forms. They brought Elias a pair of shorts, and also handed me some clothes, which I was sure Elias had asked them


    to do.


    I took the clothes behind a tree and tried to shift back. I expected it to be simple like before, but it wasn’t. This time, it was slower and so much more painful. I didn’t understand why shifting had been easy the first time but was now so difficult.


    From the other side of the tree, I could hear Elias talking to me, his voice calm and


    <CHAPTER 26


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    reassuring. He tried to soothe me, telling me everything was going to be okay. But the sensation of my bones breaking and reforming was excruciating–I wasn’t sure I could actually survive it.


    It probably took half an hour before the shift was finally over. Iy on the ground afterward, breathing hard, my body aching all over. It was easily the most painful thing I had ever endured. Slowly, I got up and started putting my clothes on.


    When I stepped around the tree, Elias was right there waiting for me. He hadn’t moved. He <fna598> Updates are released by ?ovelFind</fna598>


    smiled and came closer, wiping the sweat off my face with a gentle touch.


    “Why was it so hard to shift back?” I asked. I didn’t have any trouble shifting the first time.


    “That’s because you weren’t trying to shift,” he said. “The first time, your instincts took over. You transformed out of pure reflex to protect yourself–and me. That made it easier.”


    “Well, it hurts like hell,” I muttered, and heughed softly at that. Then he wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and we began walking along the edge of the tree line. As we started descending a steep mountain slope, Elias stayed close, helping me navigate the path. Eventually, we reached the gully where his pack made their home.


    “Home sweet home,” Elias murmured as we arrived. His entire pack was alread, ere, waiting to greet us, and they looked genuinely happy to see us return safely.


    One by one, they stepped forward to introduce themselves. I knew there was no way I could remember all their names right away, but I was determined to try. I made a silent promise to keep talking to them until I learned who everyone was. They all gave off a good energy–loyal, kind, genuine.


    They had answered Elias’s call without hesitation, and I couldn’t help noticing that not a


    single person referred to him as Alpha. Everyone just called him by his name. It struck me as unusual, but also fitting. Elias didn’t act like a traditional Alpha, and that’s exactly what made him different.


    So I decided I wouldn’t act like a typical Luna either. I didn’t want anyone calling me Luna, princess, queen, or <i>your </i>highness. I told them all to just call me Lyra. I didn’t want to be ced above them in status–I didn’t feel like I deserved that. They were the ones who’d risked their lives to save mine. Royal blood or not, that meant something.


    When we finally got back to our cabin, I walked straight toward my room. But I froze in the doorway when I saw the dried bloodstain on the floor. Elias came up behind me and stopped,


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    his eyes catching the same thing.


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    “Oh s**t. I’m really sorry,” he said, sounding genuinely upset. “I thought someone would’ve cleaned that up while we were gone. Go take a shower, I’ll get this taken care of right away. Promise.”


    I gave him a small nod, grabbed some fresh clothes from my dresser, and headed into the bathroom.


    The hot shower felt amazing. I washed my hair twice to get all the tangles out, then changed into a pair of tights and a soft, loose shirt that hungfortably on me.


    When I came out, Elias had already made me a coffee and set it on the table. I was more grateful for that than I expected. We sat down together, but my mind kept drifting back to


    everything that had happened–especially what my father had done, and what he might still


    be nning.


    He was clearly trying to stop me from taking the throne, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that the answers were hidden somewhere in that old book about the royals.


    “What’s going on in that head of yours?” Elias asked gently.


    “Besides the fact that I’mpletely exhausted?” I sighed. “I keep wondering how my father convinced that witch to help him. And why is he trying so hard to get rid of me? I’m not even


    a threat anymore.”


    “Well, clearly you still are,” Elias said. “He probably knows things about you that you don’t even know yet.”


    “Obviously,” I muttered. “I just wish I knew what it was.” I was starting to get lost in my thoughts again when a knock sounded at the door, and Elias got up to answer it.


    A man and a woman stepped inside carrying a couple of dishes. Elias thanked them warmly, clearly touched by the gesture. I got up too and walked over to them.


    “I’m so sorry,” I said with a polite smile. “I met so many people earlier today–would you mind telling me your names again?”


    “Not at all,” the man said. “I’m Andy, and this is my wife, Adie. We live right next door.”


    “I’m really sorry,” I said again, feeling bad for forgetting.


    “It’spletely fine. You’ve been through a lot over the past few days,” Adie <i>said </i>warmly. “We just thought we’d bring you two some food, since we figured neither of you would be in the


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    mood to cook.”


    “Well, that’s putting it mildly,” Elias added with a small smile.


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    After they left, we warmed up the food and sat down to eat. Once we were done, Elias finally went to take a shower. I stayed behind to wash the dishes, then brought them back to the neighbors before returning home. I actually got back before Elias finished showering, which was lucky–he might’ve panicked if I’d taken any longer.


    We were bothpletely worn out, so we agreed to get some sleep. Elias went to his room, and I headed into mine. I paused briefly at the doorway, still a bit hesitant–but when I stepped inside, I saw that everything had been cleaned up. The bloodstain was gone. Someone had taken care of it.


    Elias checked to make sure I was okay before I went in, and I left my bedroom door cracked open a little bit.


    I slipped under the covers, knowing I needed rest more than anything. But every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was that wicked gleam in Lenore’s eyes. I kept reliving the moment she stabbed me–how the knife had felt plunging into my stomach. She couldn’t touch me anymore, but the memory lingered, heavy and vivid.


    From the other room, I could hear Elias snoring softly, but in my own bed I was sull tossing and turning. The sheets twisted around me, and the silence felt too loud. I was so tired, but sleep just wouldn’te.


    Eventually I gave up. I climbed out of bed and crept into the hallway. Elias’s door was slightly ajar too, and I nced toward the living room. That couch was no good for sleeping–I’d tried it before and regretted it. So I made my way to Elias’s room and nudged the door open quietly.


    The breeze drifted in through the open window, and Eliasy sprawled on one side of the bed. Without waking him, I walked quietly to the other side and slipped under the nket. I just needed rest, and I knew this was the only way I’d get it. My room still held too many bad memories.


    It didn’t take long for sleep to find me this time. And for once, it was deep, undisturbed–no dreams, no nightmares, just peace.


    I had <i>no </i>idea how long I’d been asleep when I stirred and rolled over, only to find Elias looking right at me. A jolt of embarrassment ran through me, but he was grinning widely.


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    “I’m sorry,” I murmured.


    “What for?” he asked, voice still raspy from sleep.


    “I couldn’t sleep in my room. Too many memories,” I admitted.


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    “There’s nothing to be sorry for,” he said gently. “But I do have to apologize for what I’m about to do.” Hey back against the pillow, eyes still on me.


    “What do you mean?” I asked cautiously.


    Without warning, he slid his arm underneath me and pulled me close, causing me to let out a surprised squeal. My headnded on his chest and he smirked. “There. Much better,” he said.


    I could hear the steady thump of his heartbeat beneath my ear, and it calmed something inside me. His body radiated warmth, and I didn’t want to move an inch. I reached across and wrapped my arm around his waist, letting myself melt into his side.


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