"Are you planning to escape by yourself?"
Elara scoffed, wanting to smile but her face was too sour to allow that. As Alpha Vesper noticed her reaction, he released her.
She staggered, trying to keep her balance. Alpha Harlan, under surprise quickly held her steady and asked, "Are you alright?"
Elara tried to speak but her words came out in a faint whisper. "I...I think so," she managed to say, her voice trembling.
Alpha Vesper's brow furrowed with worry as he helped her sit on the bed. "Are you still not recovered?" he asked in a teasing tone, wondering how someone would rest for that long and still be weak after waking. "What happened?"
Elara took a deep breath, trying to firm her voice but her voice was barely above a whisper. She was still pale and looked so much unwell. "I'm worried about my inner wolf." She opened up to Vesper, knowing he was the only one whom she was familiar with.
Alpha Vesper's eyes drew narrowly at her. He wasn't even sure if he was worried for her or if he just liked to tease her. "Can you go straight to the point? What happened to her?" He said then took Elara's hand into his, without waiting for her response.
He seemed like the kind of being who didn't have much patience tending to others. Elara's lack of strength was obvious in his grip.
She was the type that had not been long apart from her wolf before not even during the slave game. The emptiness she was feeling was the first time therefore making it difficult for her to explain to him.
She was about to withdraw her hand but gave in as Alpha Vesper held the grip tighter and observed her pulse, "What happened to her? Was she still sleeping?" He teased, knowing how carelessly she could sleep.
Elara grimed her face and yanked her hand from him, "I woke up feeling empty. I think she surfaced when I was asleep and might be roaming around."
His expression softened. As he held Elara, he foresaw her wolf but the vision faded off too quickly since she yanked her hand.
This made him nod with understanding. He knew how important the bond between her and her wolf was and he could sense the fear and worries in Elara's voice.
"I know where she is. If you don't mind I can help you," he said, making a face at her as though this girl might turn down the offer.
"You...Do you come across her? Where is she? I can't feel her anywhere near." Her worries multiplied. Already up from the bed and aimed at the door.
A light devilish smile formed on Alpha Vesper's face. Before she could dash out of the door, he swiftly tossed her to himself, wrapping his hand around her waist as she drifted into his embrace effortlessly and their faces were inched apart.
Elara's eyes widened as her voice went rolling back.
"She must be very far away now." He said, his voice hushed out darkly as he dropped his gaze down to her lips.
Elara tightened her lips and her eyes blinked. "You can take me there, please." She whispered, not certain if it was audible to him.
Having foreseen the wolf, he pulled her to balance her feet and flicked her head. Elara groaned, "Ouch!" her hand went straight to her forehead, rubbing it, and stared at him disbelievingly.
"What was that propping for? Planning to escape from my presence?" He scolded, averting from her as Elara became mortified.
******
An hour later, Elara stepped out of the Imperial Castle, she felt a surge of nervousness coursing through her. Wearing a peach-colored short sexy gown. Her red hair was replaced by a long gray waving hair, Alpha Vesper stood beside her, offering her a reassuring smile as they made their way towards his car.
Elara's heart pounded with anxiety as they walked, her eyes darting nervously around the Courtyard. Ever since Alpha Vesper told her about what her fainting had caused, she was nervous and became unrest to the point that she gave up searching for Lyas, however, Alpha Vesper surprised her when three Stylists came into the room to transform her appearance.
Luckily for her, very few protesters remain in the Courtyard yet she could feel their eyes on her, their disapproving gazes burning into her skin.
"Keep your head down," Alpha Vesper whispered, his voice low and urgent. "We don't want them to recognize you or do you?"
Elara nodded, her heart racing with fear as they hurried towards the waiting car. She could feel the weight of this man's gaze on her. Somehow his presence offered her a sense of comfort amidst the chaos.
She forbade that feeling as the protester's voice rose aloft.
As they reached the car, Alpha Vesper opened the door for her, gesturing for her to climb inside. Elara hesitated for a moment, it was as though she was running away like a coward which was definitely not her method of dealing with situations.
"Come on, Laia," he urged, his voice gentle but firm. "We need to go before they recognize you."
Summoning all her courage, Elara
climbed into the car, her heart still pounding with anxiety. As he flung the door closed, he hurriedly slid into the driver's seat beside her, Elara could see his attitude filled with so much concern towards her.
"Just bear it in mind that it wasn't your fault that all these happened... I meant the faint and your disappearing wolf, so you have to shut off those nerves and face the situation head-on," he said, more like encouraging her but this man didn't seem like one who encouraged others.
Like he always teased her. So, where comes this sympathy? She thought while staring at him with keen eyes making Alpha Vesper ask "Are you alright?" still, his tone was filled with concern.
Elara nodded quietly and whipped her face to the window. As the protester outside the gate saw the moving car, they looked their way with suspicion.
Pointing toward their car, they started running and shouting. "That was another Royal's car!!!"
Elara stirred in her seat.