Elara's POV
I turned my back on Kieran before I could change my mind.
My heart hammered against my ribs. Every feeling screamed that I was about to do something crazy. Something that could get me killed.
But sticking with Kieran would definitely get me killed. I'd already lived through that death once.
The masked figure stood in the darkness at the edge of the pavilion. Everyone knew the Lycan King attended the Moon Dance, but no one dared approach him without permission. Some said he killed dogs just for looking at him wrong.
I didn't care anymore.
My feet moved forward. One step. Then another. The crowd split around me like I was on fire.
"Elara, stop!" Cassian grabbed my arm. "What are you doing?"
"Trust me," I whispered, pulling free.
I could feel Kieran's angry stare burning into my back. Could hear the shocked whispers spreading through the crowd like flames. But I kept walking toward the masked man who might be my only chance at life.
The Lycan King didn't move as I neared. He just watched me through the silver mask that covered the upper half of his face. His stance was relaxed, but I could feel the power radiating from him. This was someone who could snap me in half without trying.
My wolf stirred slightly inside me, pushing me forward even though she was still locked away. She wanted this. Needed this.
I stopped right in front of him. Up close, I could see his eyes through the mask—dark and fierce, studying me carefully.
"Your Majesty," I said, my voice shaking only a little. "I need your help."
He tilted his head slightly. "Do you know what you're asking?"
His voice made something inside me crack open. It was familiar somehow, like a song I'd forgotten I knew.
"Yes," I lied. I had no idea what I was doing. I just knew I couldn't let Kieran take me.
"Then ask properly," the Lycan King said softly.
I understood what he meant. There was only one way to claim protection from a Lycan King at the Moon Dance. Only one way that couldn't be undone or fought with.
The mate bond.
My hands shook as I reached up. The Lycan King stood perfectly still, letting me move his mask away. Just enough to see his face.
My breath caught.
I knew that face.
"Luca?" The childhood nickname slipped out before I could stop it.
Those eyes. That small scar above his left eyebrow from when we fell out of a tree together. The way his mouth curled up on one side when he was thinking.
Lucian Nightborne. My best friend who disappeared when we were eight years old. Who I cried over for months. Who I thought I'd never see again.
He became the Lycan King.
"Hello, Elara," he said quietly. "I've waited so long to hear you say my name again."
Then I kissed him.
The moment our lips touched, the world exploded.
The mate bond slammed into place like a thunderstorm. Silver light burst around us, so bright people gasped and covered their eyes. Every cell in my body lit up with recognition.
Home. Safe. Mine.
My locked wolf howled inside me, trying desperately to break free. She recognized her mate even stuck behind the curse.
I pulled back, gasping for air. Lucian's mask had fallen fully off now. He stared at me with wonder and something that looked like relief.
"You remember me," he whispered. "You actually remember."
Of course I remembered. How could I forget Luca who caught fireflies with me? Who taught me to climb trees? Who promised we'd be friends forever before his family took him away?
But there was something else in his eyes. Something that made my chest tight.
He knew about the time loss. Somehow, he knew.
"We need to talk," I breathed. "Privately. There are things—"
"I know," Lucian cut me off kindly. His hand came up to cup my face. "I know about all of it, Elara. We have the same memories."
My knees almost gave out. He was a regressor too. I wasn't alone in this horror.
A roar of rage broke the moment.
Kieran burst through the crowd, his face twisted with fury. "No! This is wrong! She was supposed to be mine!"
Supposed to be. He said it again. Past tense.
Kieran definitely knew the original timeline. Which meant he'd been planning to use me again, knowing exactly what he did the first time.
"The lady made her choice," Lucian said calmly, stepping in front of me. "Or do you challenge her right to choose?"
"She's been manipulated!" Kieran pointed at me with a shaking hand. "You used dark magic on her!"
The crowd mumbled. Some people looked uncertain now. A rejected Alpha charging the Lycan King of dark magic was serious.
"I used no magic," Lucian said quietly. "Everyone felt the mate bond form naturally."
"Then prove it!" Kieran snarled. "Let the Moon Temple priests check her! If there's no magic, she'll be fine!"
My blood turned to ice.
The Moon Temple monks could see everything. They could look into your soul and read your truth. If they inspected me, they'd see my memories of dying. They'd know I was a time regressor.
They might even see things I didn't remember yet. Things locked away with my cat.
But if I declined, everyone would think I had something to hide. They'd believe Kieran's claims.
I had to chance.
"I agree to the examination," I said clearly.
Lucian's head whipped toward me. "Elara—"
"I have nothing to hide," I said, hoping it was true. "Let them check. They'll find no dark magic."
Technically, the Moon Goddess sent me back. That wasn't dark magic. That was divine help. The priests would have to accept that.
I hoped.
Kieran's eyes gleamed with victory. "Excellent. Tonight. Right now."
"No," Lucian said strongly. "Elara is under royal protection now. Any examination happens at the Moon Temple with proper planning. Not here."
Kieran's jaw clenched. "Tomorrow then. With the entire court watching."
"Agreed," Lucian said.
Kieran shot me one last look full of hate before turning away. His pack followed, all of them staring at me like I'd committed murder.
The moment they were gone, my legs started shaking. Cassian emerged at my side, catching me before I fell.
"What just happened?" my brother whispered. "Did you really just—"
"I'll explain everything," I promised. "Just not here."
Lucian moved closer, his hand reaching toward me. "We need to leave. Now. Before Kieran tries something."
"Tries what?" Cassian demanded.
A woman in armor stepped out of the shadows. "An ambush, possibly. Or an accident. Alpha Kieran doesn't take rejection well."
"This is Commander Sera," Lucian said. "She leads my guard."
Sera bowed slightly to me, but her eyes were sharp and evaluating. "We should move fast, Your Majesty. I don't like how many of Kieran's wolves are still watching us."
She was right. I could feel eyes on us from all directions. Some curious. Others hostile.
"I need to tell my parents—" I started.
"Three minutes," Sera interrupted. "Then we're leaving whether you're ready or not."
I nodded and turned to find my father in the crowd. But when I looked toward where my parents had been standing, my mother was gone.
Only my father stayed, looking shocked and confused.
"Dad!" I ran to him.
He grabbed me in a tight hug. "Elara, what's happening?"
"I'm sorry. I have to go with the Lycan King. He's my mate."
"Your mate?" Dad pulled back, studying my face. "Are you sure about this?"
"I'm sure. Please trust me."
Dad looked like he wanted to argue, but something in my face stopped him. "Where's your mother? She should be here."
I scanned the crowd again. Still no sign of her.
That was wrong. Mom should be fighting to keep me here. Or at least saying goodbye.
Unless she already knew I was going. Unless she wanted me gone.
"Time's up," Sera said, appearing at my side. "We go now."
I hugged Dad one more time. "I love you. I'll explain everything later."
Sera led us toward waiting horses. Lucian was already mounted. Cassian grabbed a horse too, unwilling to let me go alone.
As we started riding away from the Moon Dance, I looked back one final time.
My mother stood at the edge of the shelter now. Talking to someone in the dark.
Someone with dark hair and eyes that glowed green even from this distance.
Morgana.
My mother was talking to Morgana. The witch who helped kill me in the other reality.
They both turned to watch me leave. My mother's face wasn't sad or worried.
It was cold. Calculating.
Like she was watching a plan fall apart.
And I realized with fear that my mother hadn't just known about the curse on my wolf.
She was the one who ordered it.