20
It had been five days since Elias’s proposal, and even my sleep had been plagued with thoughts of his request. But not only that. The very thought of his own wife that looked exactly like me added to the unease that had settled in my stomach. Who was Magnolia?
A knock at the door snapped me out of my thoughts. Before I could stand up from the patio, Elias was already entering my gate as though he were a regular resident of my home.
He sat comfortably in front of me, filling the space. He leaned back, looking fully at ease as he helped himself to
8:39 AM
the coffee maker on the side table. “Need this badly. I’m yet to have a breakfast.”
I stood, unsure if I should say hello. Finally, I said, “Good morning, Alpha King.” I bowed.
Elias chuckled. “Mauve, you don’t need to address me like that. You’ve earned the right to call me Elias. You’ve
saved my life, after all.
I bit my lip, not sure how to reply to his friendly tone. It felt odd to call him by his first name, like we were on the same level. “I’ll try to get used to it,” I said as I finally sat down across from him.
He took a sip of his coffee. “Good. I want us to be honest with each other. This favor I’m asking of you is not easy, and I don’t expect you to agree without understanding everything.”
I nodded, leaning forward slightly. “I’m not saying yes, Elias. Not yet. Before I even consider it, I need to know about Magnolia. Who is she, and how did you find me?”
“Magnolia is my mate, my Luna Queen. She’s strong, brave, and loved by all. I met her during a pack gathering in the forest, and she immediately recognized you in a vision.”
I blinked. “S–She revealed me in a vision? What does that mean?”
“That’s right.” Elias nodded. “She was a seer before she became my Luna Queen. She saw you in a vision–a doppelganger of her that will be important in the future. And I strongly believe that “that” future is now.”
“How did you even find me?” I asked further even though my head was already in an ache of trying to process everything.
“The day my palace was attacked, my beta managed to get me to a hospital. But as soon as we arrived, we sensed rogue activity nearby. It wasn’t safe” He leaned forward. “That was when I saw you. You were leaving the hospital. At first, I thought I was hallucinating because you looked exactly like Magnolia. But I pushed the thought aside and had my Beta leave me at your place. He needed to return to the palace to secure it. And you know the rest.”
I tried to process his words, my mind racing. “You mean to tell me you’ve been following me because I look like your mate?”
Elias nodded. “Despite Magnolia claiming you as her doppelganger, I had no idea why you resembled her so closely. Maybe it’s fate. Maybe the Moon Goddess sent you as a blessing in disguise. All I know is that you’re the only one who can help me keep the peace.”
I stood, needing to move to clear my thoughts. Pacing the room, I spoke carefully. “Elias, I understand what you’re asking, but I don’t think I’m the right person for this. I left my old life behind to find peace. I’m trying to rebuild myself, to heal after what I went through with Jester. And now you’re asking me to step into a role that feels impossible.”
He rose. “I understand your hesitation, Mauve. Truly, I do. But think about it. You could save countless lives by maintaining stability among the packs. And I…” He paused, touching my shoulder and I gasped inwardly at the contact. “I promise I’ll protect you. You won’t be alone in this.”
I turned to face him. “I’m not saying no. But I’m not saying yes either. I need time, Elias. Time to think about what this will mean for me.”
He nodded, a faint smile touching his lips. “Take all the time you need. I’ll wait.”
C
The next day, I arrived at Shadowpine Hospital. Work was my sanctuary, a place where I could focus on helping others and forget my own troubles. But as I stepped into the lab, my supervisor approached me with a nervous expression
“Mauve, the hospital director wants to see you,” she said.
My stomach dropped. “The director? Why?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure. But he’s waiting for you on the ton flear
ᄆ
I nodded, forcing myself to stay calm as I made my way to the elevator. The thought of being summoned by the director filled me with dread. Was this about Jester? The scandal he caused had already turned my life upside down once. What if it had reached Shadowpine? What if I was about to lose the one stable thing in my life?
The elevator doors opened, and I stepped out onto the top floor. I approached the large office at the end of the hall and knocked lightly on the door.
“Come in,” a deep voice called
I pushed the door open, my eyes immediately drawn to the large leather chair facing the glass wall. The view beyond showed the sprawling forest that surrounded Shadowpine, but my focus was on the figure in the chair.
“Hello, Director Smith,” I said after a shaky breath.
“Lock the door behind you, dear he instructed.
Frowning, I complied. When he finally turned to face me, my heart stopped.
It wasn’t Director Smith
It was Jester.