A bright red alert icon appeared next to the message.Ryder suddenly realized he had been blocked.His face went completely dark.This was the first time Elara had severed their connection so completely.
He scratched his head irritably and was about to rush upstairs when he saw the Pack Servant approaching with a heavy box.
She said carefully,“Alpha,this package arrived earlier from the former Mate.”
Ryder hadn’t registered the servant’s subtle shift in address.He took the box and eagerly tore it open.On the top lay a single,folded scroll.
Immediately,Ryder snatched it up and unfolded it.Elara’s exquisite script filled the page.He quickly scanned the contents.
[Ryder,do you still recall the first time you confronted the rogue pup who challenged my claim in the junior training circle?That day,you stood in front of me,barely taller than me,and growled fiercely,“I am securing her claim.”
From that cycle on,my devotion to you was permanent.
During the academy cycles,you were injured in a territorial skirmish,and I secretly left the Pack’s healing salve in your sleeping pallet.You sensed the presence of the gift and asked every Beta who it was from.I was too afraid to admit it,so I had to listen to you and Lyra discussing,blushing,‘Which nervous She-Wolf has such careful scenting skills.’
When you assumed the Alpha title and faced Clan setbacks,you drank the ceremonial mead until you collapsed.I guarded you on the highest watchtower all night.
You looked at me and said,“Elara,why are you such a fool to waste your youth on my troubled territory.”
“Yes,Ryder,I was truly a fool.”
I believed that the bond would grow over time.I believed that as long as my devotion was deep enough,you would eventually see me.But some Claims are simply destined not to be fulfilled.On this fifth Claim anniversary,I leave you two gifts.They are at the bottom of the box.
Farewell,Ryder Thorne.
The rest of your cycles,may you both find your true,bonded destinies.]
Ryder’s hand trembled violently as he held the scroll.He never knew that Elara’s devotion had been a permanent,foundational part of his life for so long.He had foolishly assumed her feelings only developed after she reached adulthood.