The first time I met Kaidon, it was at a pack meeting. He stared at me with wide eyes and murmured her name, "Elara." I thought maybe I reminded him of someone, but I later learned that I looked exactly like his true mate, the one he lost.
Before Kaidon, my life had been hanging by a thread. My brother had fallen into bad company, tangled with rogues. I tried to pull him out, but the rogues demanded payment we couldn’t afford. Everything was spiraling out of control.
Then Kaidon came into my life, offering something I couldn’t refuse. He promised to take me in, to make me his mate. His proposal was a lifeline when I was drowning, and I grabbed hold of it.
After joining the Blackwood Pack, Kaidon made sure I never faced disrespect. The pack looked down on me because of my past, but Kaidon’s protection kept them at bay. He gave me everything I asked for, made me feel special. I started to believe he might care for me, that maybe, just maybe, he could love me.
But there was always something missing. A room in the packhouse that was off-limits, one I was never allowed to enter. I was curious, but Kaidon never let me near it. I didn’t push, even though the mystery gnawed at me.