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Laith’s agreement is instant, even though he’s only known the truth for less than an hour. He’s willing to embrace this new life with excitement and enthusiasm.
Yet Elara hesitates. Kade’s words of warning slip through her mind, unbidden.
You don’t understand! He’s not safe to be around. You’re not safe with him.
Even before they’ve finished, Elara’s tilting her chin up. She was never safe with Kade. Her heart betrayed her, her instincts were way off. She should never have trusted him.
“Yes, I want to join the Shadowgrace pack, alpha,” she says, her voice strong and clear.
She’s not sure if she’s making sure she cements her own commitment, or whether she’s throwing the statement out to the universe.
Take that, Kade.
Denzel nods. “You’ll meet them when you’re ready. For now, we train.”
Laith grins as he rubs his hands together. "More than happy to. When do we start?"
Denzel steps around them and walks toward the back of the house and Laith happily follows. Elara has to focus on lifting her feet to do the same. Why is Denzel waiting to introduce them to his pack? When will they be ready, whatever that means?
Elara shakes her head, then jogs to catch up. She can’t hesitate. She can’t second guess.
Because there’s only one thing she knows rights now.
She can’t do this alone.
2
Kade
Kade stands in the shadows of the early afternoon as they dance through the branches of the bushes hiding him. Once again, he’s outside Denzel’s house, watching Elara run to the pack instead of running back to him.
He’s followed her all morning, watched her get home, watched her leave, even kept control of himself while Laith put his hands on her and actually embraced her. Kade had bristled then. That anyone but him would be touching her made him more angry than he had any right to be. But now? Now Elara’s willingly walked into a situation he warned her against. She’s accepted the invitation to the pack. She's joining Denzel and taking Laith with her instead.
In his mind, Kade knows he has no right to be upset. He’s done nothing but lie to Elara and push her away every time she tried to ask questions. He wants her with him, but the prophecy…
Kade growls as Laith and Elara square off to practice dueling. It should be him with her, him rolling around in the grass and pinning her to the ground, not Laith. But the prophecy can’t be denied. Elara made the change, she’s the destined one, and Laith’s drawn to her like a moth to the flame, which could only mean one thing. Laith is her mate. Laith will help her fulfill the prophecy.
Laith, not Kade, will be the one that Elara falls in love with.
A grunt from the clearing that’s Denzel’s backyard draws Kade’s attention. Laith has Elara pinned to the ground, her legs wrapped around his waist as she bucks and thrashes to be set free. Both of them are laughing, staring into each other's eyes like star-crossed lovers. It makes Kade physically sick.
He was ready to do what it took to fulfill the prophecy with her as her mate. Ready to lay down his life for the greater good. Better to have loved than lost…but no. No, it isn’t him. Why would it be? Why would anything in Kade’s life ever work out? It wouldn't.
This is not his destiny.
Elara’s not his mate.
Elara’s nothing to him, nothing but a girl he has to protect. So why does his body yearn to be near her? Why does his heart ache when he imagines a future between her and Laith?
“Alright, that’s enough. Laith, let her up,” Denzel says with laughter in his voice. He claps as the pair right themselves and playfully shove each other. “Laith, you’re clearly stronger than Elara, but strength isn't the only way to win a battle. Elara, come here.”
Elara almost dances over to Denzel and leans up on her tip-toes when he motions her to come closer for a whisper. Mischief flashes in her eyes as Denzel’s dark lips hover close to her ear. He has a lazy, half-smile and Kade can’t help but wonder if his hands are itching to touch Elara the way that Kade’s are.
“Again,” Denzel announces with a clap, and Elara and Laith begin to slowly circle one another.
“I don’t know what he said to you, girl, but you don't stand a chance,” Laith goads, a friendly grin on his face.
“We’ll see about that,” Elara laughs, holding out her arm and crooking a finger at him as if to say ‘come at me.’
