Chapter 3

Kane hesitated, his eyes finding mine in the rearview mirror.

"Whatever Elara wants," he said softly.

I stayed silent, letting the silence hang in the air.

The mood in the car instantly turned to ice.

Lyra scoffed, breaking the tension.

"Always 'whatever Elara wants.' If other tribes heard Blackrock's future Alpha was so whipped, they'd laugh themselves sick."

A frown creased Kane's forehead.

"They already know, don't they? Thanks to your big mouth, you're the one leading the tribe in teasing me."

They both laughed, moving on from the topic.

Soon, they were swapping stories about the tribe council.

My duties were hunting and defense, a world away from their politics.

I didn't know half the names they were throwing around.

I used to think their constant bickering meant they clashed.

Now, it just sounded like flirting.

I could just imagine them, acting like this during council meetings.

I was supposed to be promoted to Chief Strategist.

My record was spotless—I'd repelled rivals and led successful hunts.

I had earned the elders' highest commendations.

But my proposal for new hunting grounds got stalled.

"Council procedure," the head elder had told me, his face full of regret.

"Our hands are tied, Elara. We'll revisit it after the ceremony."

Meanwhile, Lyra joined Kane on a few border patrols.

And suddenly she got a promotion for 'outstanding performance.'

Straight into the tribe's inner circle.

The pieces started clicking into place.

Two months ago, I saw scrolls on her table.

Urgent plans for resource allocation.

The runic script… it was undeniably Kane's.

That was when he started taking ages to answer my messages.

Sometimes he'd just disappear for days.

I actually felt sorry for him, thinking he was buried in tribe business.

He'd hold me and whisper in my ear.

"It's for our bonding ceremony, for our future. It's all worth it."

The next day, gifts would appear at my stone house.

Gowns from Elven weavers, brilliant jewels.

He'd arrive with the finalized ceremony plans, an apologetic look on his face.

"This is to make up for being away so much, my love. I promise, our ceremony will be the grandest this tribe has ever seen."

All his hard work, all his grand promises.

They were never for me.

They were for Lyra.