Dark Heart

5.

 For the next week, Ophelia stayed silent. Elias could only stare guiltily at her neck. The side of her neck was bruised and an angry red, a sign that the claim had not been consensual like he promised.

Elias hated it. It was nothing on how he planned to claim her. She became like a ghost, never in bed when he was. Every morning there was still a pot of hot tea and Elias made sure he drank all of it, but she was always gone.

He learned that she was always in the gardens, before he woke up and when he finished dinner. She didn't eat in his presence, instead going to the kitchens herself. It made Elias angry, that he was cause of her silence and suffering. That he was every bit the monster she heard of.

His own mother and sister refused to look at him. He could smell their disappointment, their hopelessness.

Good.

They should know that he was a lost cause.

That he could not become who they wanted him to be.

He thought he would remain indifferent, but all he could feel was anger at himself and deep sadness for pain he saw in the people he cared about. His wolf raged inside him.

He sat in his office, a headache a constant throb in his head. It had started earlier this week and was becoming stronger each day.

"You don't look well," Ryland said, walking in. He placed daily reports on his desk. "Shall I call for a healer?"

"No, it's just a headache. It will pass."

Ryland didn't look so sure. "Alpha, there have been an increase in murders in the territories you've taken over."

Elias just pinched the bridge of his nose. "That's hardly concerning." He felt a sharp pain at his words. If Ophelia heard that, what would she think? "Send a warrior there to take care of it."

"Yes, but the bodies have no scent."

"No scent?"

"Their throats and chest will be torn open and any wolf should be able to catch the murderer's scent, but there's nothing there."

Elia tried making sense of that. It was impossible for a wolf to not leave a scent.

"The killings are getting closer here," Ryland said. "I think your mate should start her training."

"Do you think I can't protect her?" Elias growled. How could he protect her when he was the cause of her pain?

"No, Alpha," Ryland said, dipping his head down. "But I think it's important for her to learn. All wolves in our pack go through basic training."

Ryland was right. Elias felt his headache becoming stronger, an ache that started in the back slowly spreading. The murders were starting to sound concerning but as long as they stayed far away, then they weren't his priority. "Okay," he gritted out. "Take her for training each morning."

Then he dismissed Ryland, a dull ring starting in his ears.

...

Ryland took Ophelia to the training grounds where warriors were already sparring. Some turned towards her, who walked beside him stoically, face down, her white hair long and pulled into a ponytail. She bled fear and meekness with each breath, like a pup with their tail between their legs.

Warriors growled at her weak scent and Ryland growled back, making them shut up and return to their training. The Lunar Pack was ruled by strength and dominance, a ruthless hierarchy. He knew the warriors would not bow to a Luna who planted flowers.