Elara POV
I stepped forward and placed the silver basket on the long wooden table. "Supreme Alpha," I said softly. "I bring a gift from the Silver Moon Pack."
Caleb stood up. He walked slowly down the steps of his throne. As he got closer, he stopped. He took a deep breath, his chest expanding. I saw his golden eyes widen slightly. The scent. I did not know what he smelled, but the air between us suddenly grew thick and heavy. For me, a sudden, sharp chill struck the back of my throat, as if I had inhaled a lungful of frosted air. It was followed by the acidic tang of wild berries crushed under the heel of a leather boot, a scent edged with something like iron. My pulse, which had been steady, gave a hard, painful kick against my ribs. A strange, restless energy began to move under my skin, making my palms itch and my blood feel too warm in my veins.
Caleb completely ignored the venison. He ignored the political games Darius was trying to play. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a thick bracelet made of dark mithril. Ancient runes were carved deep into the metal. It was a powerful artifact designed to protect the wearer from silver weapons. Before I could speak, he grabbed my wrist. His grip was hard and unyielding. He snapped the mithril bracelet around my wrist and locked it. The mithril was cool against my skin, and I felt a strange hum of power, as if the bracelet recognized me.
"Supreme Alpha?" I whispered, confused and breathless.
"Will you come to the full moon ball?" Caleb asked, his voice a low, rough rumble.
"Do you want me to come?" I asked nervously.
A small, dangerous smile touched his lips. "Yes."
I pulled my hand back and fled the hall. My skin felt feverish, my thoughts a chaotic whirl. When I reached the iron gates of the Silver Moon castle, Darius was pacing in the snow. He looked relieved when he saw me, but then he stepped closer. He inhaled sharply. The muscles in his jaw bunched into hard knots.
"You smell like him!" Darius roared. He grabbed my arm and saw the mithril bracelet. "What is this?" he snarled. He fumbled with a hidden clasp, his frustration mounting until it finally sprang open. He tore the bracelet from my wrist, leaving a raw, red mark behind. The metal scraped my wrist raw, leaving a burning red mark that seemed to pulse with a faint, protective warmth.
"Take this back to him!" Darius shouted at a nearby Beta guard. "Tell him the Omegas in my territory do not need gifts from another Alpha!"
Darius dragged me into the castle. "Vivian has taken your bedchamber," he said coldly. "You will sleep in the cold side wing from now on." He pushed me into a small, damp room in the abandoned tower. He locked the door behind us and began pacing, cursing Caleb's name. His scent turned sharp with rage and something darker, more possessive. His eyes were wild with a sudden, predatory lust that had nothing to do with affection. He walked toward me, reaching for the laces of my dress.
"No," I said, stepping away from him. My voice was quiet but held a core of ice he had never heard before. "Leave."
Darius froze, his hand hovering in the air. He struggled to suppress the violent, chaotic wolf inside him, a vein throbbing in his temple. He clearly saw me not as a person, but as a possession Caleb had dared to touch. He glared at me, his pride warring with his base instincts, then finally turned and slammed the door behind him, the sound of the heavy bolt echoing my sentence.
I rotted in that freezing tower for three days. On the night of the full moon, the heavy iron lock finally clicked. Darius stood in the doorway, tossing a servant's uniform and the vial of potion at my feet. "Vivian's welcoming ball is tonight," he snarled. "Caleb is the guest of honor. You will serve him this wine. You will rip your clothes and scream. If you let him actually touch you, Elara, I will kill you myself."
I picked up the vial, but this time, I saw not a tool, but a key. A key to my own cage.
The ball was in full swing. I walked through the crowded hall, carrying a silver tray with a goblet of red wine. The potion was already mixed inside. I found Caleb standing near the balcony, away from the crowd. I offered him the goblet. Before he took it, he reached out and pinched my chin. His fingers were burning hot.
"Do you regret this, Elara?" he asked softly.
Guilt swallowed me. I shook my head, avoiding his piercing gaze. Caleb smiled faintly and drank the wine in one gulp. A moment later, he stumbled. I caught his arm and guided him into a nearby guest bedchamber. I helped him onto the bed covered in thick furs. My hands shook violently as I reached out and began to unbutton his silk shirt.
