Elara sat in front of her vanity, combing her fingers through her damp hair as the evening breeze slipped through the open windows. The scent of lavender still clung to her skin from the bath.
A soft, quiet knock jolted her out of her reverie.
She didn't bother turning to see who it was. She had been expecting. "Co in."
The door creaked open, and a young maid stepped inside, head bowed respectfully. She straightened up, pulling the cloak she had worn.
"I bring news from Lady Jocelyn, My lady."
Elara raised a brow, finally turning to face her. "Well? Don't keep waiting."
The maid nodded quickly. "She says… the concubines have all been dismissed from the palace. It's ti for you to return."
A wide smile stretched on Elara's lips. "All of them?" She asked, and the servant girl nodded.
"Now, isn't that good news." She said, turning to face the mirror. "What else?" She asked.
"The lady says you have to return as soon as possible. The slave girl has sunk her claws into the king."
Elara's smile dimd a little, hurt twisting in her stomach. "Has she now?"
The servant girl nodded, then paused for a second. "If I may, my lady." She began, waiting for Elara's go-ahead.
Elara nodded, and the girl smiled. "Adina, she hasn't just sunk her claws into the king. She's sunk her venom, my lady." She paused for a second then continued. "She does everything for him. None of us are allowed to go near him. And the king? He's totally smitten by her. And even when the concubines were around, he didn't even look at them. It was always about Adina. He took her to the moon festival. News had it that he had all of her clothes sewn by his own seamstress."
Elara said nothing for a mont, fingers tightening slightly around the comb. Her smile remained, but it no longer reached her eyes. "Smitten, you say?"
"My lady. It's almost like she cast a spell on the king and even the beta. It's always her. Adina, Adina, Adina. Every one of us is tired of her." The girl said, rolling her eyes for a second only to freeze, realizing where she was.
Elara caught it though and smirked. "What's your na?" She asked.
The girl smiled. "gan, My lady."
"gan…" Elara drawled. "I like you already."
"The concubines cleared out like the roaches they were, and now the slave thinks she's queen." She turned slowly, silk robe swaying with each step as she walked past the maid. "Bring the coachman. We'll be leaving at dawn."
"Yes, my lady," the maid said quickly, giving a little bow before she turned to go.
Monts later, the coachman stepped into the room, head bowed. "You called for , my lady."
"We leave at first light," she said simply, pouring herself a glass of red wine. "Make sure the horses are well-rested. I want a smooth ride."
The man nodded. "Are we returning to the palace, my lady?"
Elara paused, glancing out the window, her expression unreadable. "Not yet," she said quietly. "There's sowhere else I need to be first."
"Alright, my lady. Please excuse ."
With the two out of the room, Elara sipped the wine and stared out the window. It was ti she made her first move.
The carriage finally stopped, Elara looked outside the window, a slow smile making its way to her lips as her eyes fell on the pack gate.
The guard ca forth, "Who do I announce?" He asked.
"General Elara of Obsidian. Tell Lord Carter I have co to see him." She said, and the guard's eyes widened slightly, he straightened up and nodded.
"Yes, my lady."
It didn't take ti, in less than a minute the gates groaned heavily as they opened, allowing her carriage in.
The carriage stopped, and Elara stepped out elegantly, allowing the hood of her cloak to fall. She looked around the pack house. It was big, but nothing was ever as big as the palace.
Two guards escorted her through the gravel path until the grand doors of the house opened.
Waiting in there was Lord Carter. Beside him stood Veronica, her posture rigid, her jaw clenched, but her eyes unmistakably wary.
"General Elara. To what do we owe this sudden visit of yours?" Carter's voice bood through the air as he stepped forward.
Elara offered him a slow smile, the kind that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Lord Carter," she greeted, dipping her head just enough to be polite. "Always a pleasure."
"I wish I could say the sa." Carter replied, "I heard you were suspended," he said, voice sharp. "Perhaps Exiled. What are you doing here? Does the king know you're in my ho?" He asked.
"Ah, Lord Carter. Ever the righteous one." She glanced at Veronica, seeing the way the other looked like she could jump Elara's bones.
"You can drop the act now. You and I know the king could never exile . Instead of talking about …let's talk about you." She grinned.
"I heard you're in deep shit with his majesty. You can't even get out of this one with your title."
Carter's expression didn't flinch, but his eyes flickered, just slightly.
"I would advise you tread carefully, Elara," he said, voice cool and deliberate. "Mocking a councilman in his own ho is a bold choice. Even for you."
"Oh, but boldness is what's kept alive this long, isn't it?" she replied smoothly, brushing invisible dust from her sleeve.
Veronica's jaw tightened. "Say what you ca to say, General, or leave."
Elara's gaze snapped to her, amused. "Watch your tone, Veronica."
"Or what?" Veronica gritted out, eyes darkening.
Carter raised a hand, stopping their petty exchange. "Enough gas, Elara. You didn't travel all this way just to trade petty insults. What do you want?"
Elara paused, glancing at Carter. "I've co to help you."
Carter cocked his brow. "Help ? You couldn't even help yourself, Elara. How could you possibly help ?"
Elara scoffed, "Your insults do not bother . I have a clearer picture so I'll let it pass." She tilted her head slightly, watching his reaction. "You're so far up in this power tussle you don't even see what's right in front of you, do you?"
"Cut to the chase, Elara. Speak clearly."
"I've co to offer you a solution. One that doesn't involve groveling to the king….one that helps the two of us." She began… this grabbed Carter's attention imdiately.
"Go on."
Elara smirked. "There's only one reason the king chose to look into your pack's politics. His personal maid, Adina."
"What do you an?"
Elara grinned, "You still don't get it, do you?" She shook her head. "The king has marked her. Adina's the king's mate."
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