Elena's POV
I slipped out of the hidden compartment in the ancestral room, the same place they used to lock me in my past life..
I had no food or water all day.
It was past night.
As I escaped, a rusted nail pierced my foot.
I bit down hard, holding back a scream as blood soaked the ground.
I forced myself forward, limping.
Cassian's safe house was nearby. He came to school today and he had to be there.
I dragged my injured leg the whole way.
And didn't stop until I reached his door.
I pushed the door and it opened. I shut the door behind me and turned back.
He was already there standing.
The moment I stepped in, he turned to me, eyes sharp.
"Elena, Are you here to reject me?" I didn't answer.
My eyes were on the table. There was real food.
I walked past him like he wasn't even there and dropped into the chair.
"Can I eat?" I asked, already reaching.
He didn't reply; he only stared in awe at my sudden audacity.
I didn't wait for it either. I ate fast and messy. Rushing it like I hadn't seen food in years.
He didn't stop me. He just watched.
"Do you think you can leave here alive?" he said calmly. "You just saw my secret."
I slowed then looked up at him. My gaze dropped to his leg.
A small smile touched my lips. "I can leave here alive," I said simply.
I met his eyes. "Because I'm your mate."
"Didn't you say you despise being my mate? You said I shouldn't let anyone know about our mate bond?" He said coldly.
I cleaned my mouth with the towel and there was only one chicken left. I stretched my hand to grab it then he hit my hand.
"It's poisoned, don't eat it!" He said, calmly. And grabbed a cup of water.
"Poisoned?!" I exclaimed. "Who will poison you?"
"The maid." He said, like it was nothing.
I stared at him with pity, I thought. "When we get married I will cook for you forever. No one will touch your meal."
Suddenly he coughed, almost choking. "What did you just say?" He asked, in a shocked face.
"Nothing." I said, with a small smile.
He asked. "Can you start the rejecting process?" He said, all ready.
I smirked. "Why? Why will I reject you? When I am.in love with you." I said, with no emotions.
He froze and his glass cup fell from his hand. "What do you want?" he asked.
I stood up and hugged him tightly. "I love you Uncle Cassian. Can we be together?"
He pushed me off, heading to the couch. "Elena, I am not a kid you can play games with." He turned and pointed at me angrily. "Right now everyone in the Nightfall and Moonshadow pack all know you wrote a love letter to your brother. To your Brother!! I am even ashamed to let people.know that my mate is a foolish little girl."
I walked to him and hugged him.
"Do you know where I am coming from.right now?" I asked, but he kept quiet.
"I was locked by Mum and her new daughter. For the whole day. They took my old love letter to you and changed your name to my Brothers."
He got angry. "How dare they? Why would they do that?"
"Do you still want to stay the crippled Uncle in the shadows?" I asked, in a serious tone.
He replied. "I don't know what you are saying."
I said to him calmly. "Tomorrow morning they will be here. Do you dare to come claim your mate?"
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Two days later. The iron door creaked open.
I kept my eyes shut, my body limp.
I pretended to be weak and helpless.
Just like they wanted.
"Still alive?" my mother's maid voice came, sharp and cold.
"Wake her up." she said.
They flashed me water on my face and I sprang up.
Two men's hands grabbed me.Rough and I didn't resist.
"So Elena, the Mistress said anything they say you should only say yes. Else you wouldn't eat." she said coldly.
They dragged me out of the ancestral room and into the main hall.
The elders were already seated. Watching and Judging with disgust in their faces.
"Shameless girl." My Aunt Lydia says.
My mother Catherine stood up and held my hands gently. She said in a low tone.
"If you want to eat," she said coldly, "answer the elders properly."
My stomach twisted painfully.
Food!! I needed it but I wasn't so hungry because Cassian fed me everyday.
"Do you love your brother?" one of the elders asked.
Aunt Lydia stood up. "Do you have to ask her? She shamelessly wrote a love letter to her own brother. Because they weren't blood related. We shouldn't be discussing such a disgraceful thing!!"
My Mum turned to her. "Don't talk to my Daughter like that!! I love my daughter and I want her happiness. If she wants to marry her brother I will let her. It's better she marries here instead of a random man in the street that will be bad to her. I will be satisfied because her brother will take care of her."
The Elder spoke up. "Let's hear from her. Elena rumors have spread that you have been writing love letters to your brother Dominic. You have greatly damaged our Alvarez Family reputation. Now we are asking if you really love your brother or if the letter was a misunderstanding."
My Mum chipped in. "It wasn't a mistake. Our maid saw it and I have just shown it to you."
My heart pounded. Where was Cassian?Why isn't he here? Fear crept in.
What if... he wasn't coming?
My fingers curled tightly. What should I say I thought. I have to survive this. This was my only chance to escape dying.
Slowly, I lifted my head, pretending to be weak.
"M... Mum... Uncles..." my voice came out soft, trembling.
"I... I would love to marry my brother..."
I paused and stared at them. My lips parted again... "But...."
The doors slammed open.
A cold voice cut through the hall. "I haven't seen a nephew trying to marry his uncle's mate."
My heart stopped. Cassian!!!!!
