We reached the Red River quickly, with me winning the race obviously. Aron playfully jumped on me, biting my neck. Our wolves took over and started to play, biting each other's tails and running around. I felt happy being with them. This moment made me think about everything I had lost, how different it would have been if the Moon Goddess had never paired me with Jace, but there was no point in thinking about what might have been.
"Where are you, Azula?" The mind-link opened, and a worried Alec spoke to me.
"I'm at the river with Elaine and Aron."
"Which river? Don't go off without telling me again. You gave me a fright."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, my king. You looked so peaceful resting; I didn't want to disturb your sleep."
"Not having you here to hold disturbs my sleep. Are you coming back?"
"Yes, I'll be back in a while, my king."
"Did you speak to Aron?"
"Yes, we've patched things up."
"He seemed quite upset. I didn't think you'd make up so easily."
"We had never fought before. We've always gotten along so well, but he was right to be upset. I hurt him."
"Will you tell me what happened? Everyone is acting rather strangely lately."
My mind was processing the fact that I had to tell my mate something I had never told anyone, to confess in words something that could damage everything.
"Azula?"
"Yes, yes... I'll tell you when I get back and... I hope you won't be angry with me."
"My moon, I would never be angry with you for something that happened before I met you."
"Okay then, I'll see you in a while, okay?"
"Okay, my queen, I'll be waiting."
Our wolves were still playing when suddenly Elaine stopped. Her wolf stood still for a moment and then suddenly started running towards the pack house. Aron and I looked at each other and ran after her. We ran and ran, and arrived back where we had left our clothes. Elaine shifted and dressed quickly, and we shifted and ran after her. Jace was standing at the door of the house when she arrived.
"Where were you, Elaine?"
"I was..."
"Did you go looking for him?"
"What are you talking about, Jace?"
"Don't lie to me... Did you go looking for your damn mate?"
"No, God, I would never do that."
"Nooo." Jace laughed sarcastically. "I don't believe you."
"Why wouldn't you believe me, Jace? I would never leave you and my children. I love them."
"You love us?" Jace looked at her as if what she said was the funniest thing in the world. His eyes looked like two black holes. "Then why, Elaine? Why do you cry every night? Why don't you sleep with me? You get up and sit by that damn window, staring at the forest as if you were waiting for him to appear and take you away." Tell me, is that what you're waiting for? Are you waiting for that damn rogue to show up and take you away? If so, you know who he is."
"What the hell are you talking about, Jace? I wasn't waiting for anyone or looking for anyone. I don't even know who he is."
"But you wish you did, right? Of course you do. You're longing for it. I can see it in your eyes."
Tears streamed down Elaine's face. She lowered her head, staring at the ground, and then suddenly lifted it with a fierce look. "You don't understand, you don't know how I felt, damn you. You don't know how I feel. You have no right to judge me. I chose you, damn you. Before I even knew him, I chose you. You can't judge me for feeling the way I do. You'd never understand."
"You think I don't know?" Jace laughed, possessed by madness. "You think I don't know what it feels like to let go of who you're supposed to love forever, to let go of the most delicious scent you've ever smelled in your life? You think I don't know what Elaine feels like? Because let me tell you something. Yes, yes, I do know, damn you. You, you're the one who doesn't know what it feels like to have to see and smell that smell every damn day, the one that drives you crazy, the one that gets into your head and makes you delirious like a madman. I won't let you play the victim with me. When we see that damn bastard, you're going to reject him. I want to see you reject him. If I chose you over the Moon Goddess's choice, you will do the same."
This was getting out of control. Aron looked at me, confused by all the words that Elaine and Jace were saying. She looked at him in surprise.
"What are you talking about, Jace?"
"You want to know what I'm talking about? I..."
Panic seized me, and I ran toward them. "No, Jace, stop." I grabbed his arm, and he turned to look at me. "Elaine was with me. She was with me and Aron. We went to the river. She wasn't looking for anyone. We were just hanging out. Nothing happened, please, just stop."
Jace looked at me, processing what I said. His eyes softened. Aron stepped forward, and Jace looked at him shamefacedly.
"I... I'm sorry. I thought she..."
"It's okay, it doesn't matter. Let's go to sleep."
I approached Elaine and took her by the hand, leading her towards him. I stretched out her hand to Jace, and he looked at her hand and then at me. His eyes lingered on mine for longer than necessary.
"Take her hand, Jace. Take your moon to rest."
He looked at me one last time, took her hand, and they both went into the pack house. I let out a long sigh and turned to Aron, who was looking at me.
"You... You knew."
I just remained silent, not wanting to deny or affirm anything. "You don't seem surprised, just like you didn't seem surprised when Elaine's mate showed up. You knew they weren't destined mates, but how? What are you hiding, Azula?"
"Aron." I looked at him with no desire to continue talking about this, and he sighed. "It's okay, it's okay. I'll go. Lisa must be waiting for me." He approached me and kissed my forehead. "Rest, princess."
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