Chapter 35: The Misunderstanding
The days following the engagement passed in a blur of celebrations, tensions, and hidden fears. The war, still looming on the horizon, seemed to weigh heavier on Elvis's shoulders with every passing day. Though she had pledged herself to Alexander, the Alpha of their pack, and the promise of their future together filled her with a sense of joy, there was an underlying sense of doubt that she couldn't shake.
The atmosphere around the pack had shifted. As their engagement became the talk of every corner of their territory, there were those who whispered. Some whispered of power plays, of alliances formed through marriage, while others were uncertain about her—this white wolf from outside the pack who had suddenly become the Alpha's chosen. No one, not even Alexander, could shield her from the cold stares, the skeptical gazes that seemed to follow her everywhere.
But she had learned to ignore them—for the most part. After all, she had Alexander by her side. She had thought that no one else's opinion could matter now. Still, doubts lingered in her heart. Her connection to Alexander had been deep and true from the start, but how could she reconcile her place in the pack with the woman she had become? How could she be the mate and fiancée of the man everyone revered without losing herself in the process?
But one thing she had never expected was that the greatest challenge to their relationship would come not from the pack, or the enemies they were preparing to fight—but from an unexpected source.
---
It was late evening when the misunderstanding began. Elvis had been standing at the edge of the camp, gazing out into the dense forest that bordered their lands. The world beyond had always been a source of intrigue for her. It was the unknown, the untamed wilderness that had shaped her into the woman she was today. But now, it also symbolized something far more dangerous—the war, the enemies they would face, the bloodshed that would come.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt a presence behind her. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Alexander's scent—a combination of pine and earth—was unmistakable.
"Elvis," he said, his voice carrying a rare tenderness that made her heart flutter.
She turned to face him, her lips curving into a smile. "Alexander, what brings you here?"
He stepped closer, his dark eyes scanning her face as though searching for something. "I wanted to check on you. How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine," she replied, though the words felt hollow. She knew that Alexander saw through her, knew when she was hiding her true feelings. But she didn't want to burden him. Not now, when the war was so close, when everything was so uncertain.
He reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face, his touch gentle but firm. "Elvis, we're about to face something far greater than either of us could have imagined. I need to know that you're ready for this. That you're ready to be with me through everything."
Her chest tightened, and for a moment, she hesitated. "I'm ready," she whispered, even though a part of her wasn't sure. She had been ready to fight, to protect her people and her love, but was she truly ready for everything that came with being with Alexander? She wasn't sure anymore.
His gaze softened, and he cupped her cheek with his hand. "Good," he said, his voice low and almost tender. "Because no matter what happens, I need you by my side. I need you to trust me, Elvis. Do you trust me?"
She nodded quickly, though the question unsettled her. Of course, she trusted him. Alexander had always been there for her—strong, unwavering, dependable. But did he truly understand the complexities of who she was? Of who they were, together?
Before she could respond, a voice called out from behind them.
"Alpha."
It was the voice of a young pack member, one of the warriors who had been assigned to help in the preparations for the upcoming war. Elvis turned to see him standing at the edge of the camp, his posture tense and wary.
Alexander turned toward him, his expression instantly hardening. "What is it?"
The warrior's eyes flickered briefly toward Elvis, then back to Alexander. "It's… it's the hunters, Alpha. They've reported a rogue wolf sighting near the northern border."
Elvis stiffened, her pulse quickening. She knew that rogue wolves were dangerous—unpredictable and violent. But that wasn't what made her tense. It was the way the warrior had looked at her, as if unsure whether or not she should be present in the conversation.
"Gather the others," Alexander commanded, his voice sharp. "We leave in an hour."
The warrior nodded and quickly retreated into the night.
Elvis turned back to Alexander, her heart heavy with a sense of unease. "You have to go, don't you?"
He nodded, his jaw tightening. "Yes, it's not safe here. I need to make sure the pack is secure."
She could feel the weight of his responsibilities pressing down on him, could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his eyes were darkening with the thoughts of battle. It was a burden he carried with such grace, but it didn't make it any easier for her to watch.
"I'll be here when you get back," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
But he didn't respond the way she had expected. Instead of a reassuring smile or a soft word, he simply turned and walked away, his back stiff and rigid. Elvis blinked, her heart sinking as she watched him disappear into the night.
---
The hours passed, but he didn't return. The rogue wolf sighting was only a minor issue, something that could have been resolved quickly. Yet, there was no sign of Alexander.
Elvis paced the camp, her mind racing with a thousand possibilities. She knew that a pack member had to report back, that she had to know if everything was okay, but no one had come.
Then, just before dawn, a figure appeared in the distance. It was Alexander. But as he approached, something about his demeanor made Elvis's heart sink. His eyes were cold, distant. He didn't smile, didn't look at her the way he normally did.
"Elvis," he said, his voice flat and devoid of emotion. "The situation's under control. It's nothing to worry about."
But it wasn't the words that struck her—it was the way he said them. It was as if he was speaking to a stranger, not the woman he had just promised his life to. She took a step forward, her hands trembling as she reached out for him.
"Alexander, what's wrong?" she asked, her voice breaking slightly. "Why are you—"
Before she could finish, another figure emerged from behind him. It was one of the other women from the pack, a member who had been close to Alexander for years. She was smiling, her eyes bright and eager as she walked up to them.
"Elvis," she greeted with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything. I just wanted to make sure Alexander was alright. You know how it is with the warriors. It's always good to have support."
Elvis froze. The words didn't make sense. Why had she spoken so casually to her, to Alexander's fiancée?
And why had Alexander let her?
The misunderstandings were subtle, but they were there, like a thousand tiny knives stabbing at her heart. Something wasn't right, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She had never felt more alone, even with Alexander standing right in front of her.
The walls were closing in on her, and the distance between her and the man she loved seemed to grow by the second. Would this misunderstanding ruin everything they had built? Would the seeds of doubt that had been planted in her heart take root and destroy the trust they had worked so hard to cultivate?
As Alexander turned away without a second glance, Elvis's heart shattered into a thousand pieces. She was left standing in the shadows of her own doubts, unsure of where they would go from here—or if they would even survive the storm that was about to break.