Elena's POV

I slipped out of the hidden compartment in the ancestral room, the same place they used to lock me in my past life..

I had no food or water all day.

It was past night.

As I escaped, a rusted nail pierced my foot.

I bit down hard, holding back a scream as blood soaked the ground.

I forced myself forward, limping.

Cassian's safe house was nearby. He came to school today and he had to be there.

I dragged my injured leg the whole way.

And didn't stop until I reached his door.

I pushed the door and it opened. I shut the door behind me and turned back.

He was already there standing.

The moment I stepped in, he turned to me, eyes sharp.

"Elena, Are you here to reject me?" I didn't answer.

My eyes were on the table. There was real food.

I walked past him like he wasn't even there and dropped into the chair.

"Can I eat?" I asked, already reaching.

He didn't reply; he only stared in awe at my sudden audacity.

I didn't wait for it either. I ate fast and messy. Rushing it like I hadn't seen food in years.

He didn't stop me. He just watched.

"Do you think you can leave here alive?" he said calmly. "You just saw my secret."

I slowed then looked up at him. My gaze dropped to his leg.

A small smile touched my lips. "I can leave here alive," I said simply.

I met his eyes. "Because I'm your mate."

"Didn't you say you despise being my mate? You said I shouldn't let anyone know about our mate bond?" He said coldly.

I cleaned my mouth with the towel and there was only one chicken left. I stretched my hand to grab it then he hit my hand.

"It's poisoned, don't eat it!" He said, calmly. And grabbed a cup of water.

"Poisoned?!" I exclaimed. "Who will poison you?"

"The maid." He said, like it was nothing.

I stared at him with pity, I thought. "When we get married I will cook for you forever. No one will touch your meal."

Suddenly he coughed, almost choking. "What did you just say?" He asked, in a shocked face.

"Nothing." I said, with a small smile.

He asked. "Can you start the rejecting process?" He said, all ready.

I smirked. "Why? Why will I reject you? When I am.in love with you." I said, with no emotions.

He froze and his glass cup fell from his hand. "What do you want?" he asked.

I stood up and hugged him tightly. "I love you Uncle Cassian. Can we be together?"

He pushed me off, heading to the couch. "Elena, I am not a kid you can play games with." He turned and pointed at me angrily. "Right now everyone in the Nightfall and Moonshadow pack all know you wrote a love letter to your brother. To your Brother!! I am even ashamed to let people.know that my mate is a foolish little girl."

I walked to him and hugged him.

"Do you know where I am coming from.right now?" I asked, but he kept quiet.

"I was locked by Mum and her new daughter. For the whole day. They took my old love letter to you and changed your name to my Brothers."

He got angry. "How dare they? Why would they do that?"

"Do you still want to stay the crippled Uncle in the shadows?" I asked, in a serious tone.

He replied. "I don't know what you are saying."

I said to him calmly. "Tomorrow morning they will be here. Do you dare to come claim your mate?"

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Two days later. The iron door creaked open.

I kept my eyes shut, my body limp.

I pretended to be weak and helpless.

Just like they wanted.

"Still alive?" my mother's maid voice came, sharp and cold.

"Wake her up." she said.

They flashed me water on my face and I sprang up.

Two men's hands grabbed me.Rough and I didn't resist.

"So Elena, the Mistress said anything they say you should only say yes. Else you wouldn't eat." she said coldly.

They dragged me out of the ancestral room and into the main hall.

The elders were already seated. Watching and Judging with disgust in their faces.

"Shameless girl." My Aunt Lydia says.

My mother Catherine stood up and held my hands gently. She said in a low tone.

"If you want to eat," she said coldly, "answer the elders properly."

My stomach twisted painfully.

Food!! I needed it but I wasn't so hungry because Cassian fed me everyday.

"Do you love your brother?" one of the elders asked.

Aunt Lydia stood up. "Do you have to ask her? She shamelessly wrote a love letter to her own brother. Because they weren't blood related. We shouldn't be discussing such a disgraceful thing!!"

My Mum turned to her. "Don't talk to my Daughter like that!! I love my daughter and I want her happiness. If she wants to marry her brother I will let her. It's better she marries here instead of a random man in the street that will be bad to her. I will be satisfied because her brother will take care of her."

The Elder spoke up. "Let's hear from her. Elena rumors have spread that you have been writing love letters to your brother Dominic. You have greatly damaged our Alvarez Family reputation. Now we are asking if you really love your brother or if the letter was a misunderstanding."

My Mum chipped in. "It wasn't a mistake. Our maid saw it and I have just shown it to you."

My heart pounded. Where was Cassian?Why isn't he here? Fear crept in.

What if... he wasn't coming?

My fingers curled tightly. What should I say I thought. I have to survive this. This was my only chance to escape dying.

Slowly, I lifted my head, pretending to be weak.

"M... Mum... Uncles..." my voice came out soft, trembling.

"I... I would love to marry my brother..."

I paused and stared at them. My lips parted again... "But...."

The doors slammed open.

A cold voice cut through the hall. "I haven't seen a nephew trying to marry his uncle's mate."

My heart stopped. Cassian!!!!!

Cassian's POV

My second Gamma Roman slammed the door open. Every head turned.

My First Gamma Rowan pushed my wheel chair in slowly, my gaze fixed on one person. Elena!

She was pale and looked weak.

But alive! She looked at me, and I saw relief in her eyes.

A breath she had been holding finally released.

She really was waiting for me? I said to myself.

I moved forward, my presence swallowing the room.

"I haven't seen a nephew trying to marry his uncle's mate," I said coldly.

Silence fell in the room,

Then...Elena straightened slightly.

Clever girl! She turned to her mother, voice soft but clear.

"Mother... I don't see anything wrong with marrying my brother..."

She paused and sobbed to everyone's hearing.

Then she added..."But I am Uncle Cassian's mate."

The room shifted. Shock, Murmurs and Disbelief from everyone seated.

I added. "It isn't right for a nephew to steal his uncle's mate."

My lips almost curved with a smile, I was forcing myself not to laugh at Elena's fake acting and crying.

"Y..you..!" Catherine pointed at her, face twisting in anger.

Elena stepped closer and gently held her hand.

"Mother," she said calmly, "I know you want the best for me and brother...."

Her grip tightened slightly. "But he has to respect seniority in the family. It's the family tradition to respect our elders' decisions, right? "

A ripple of agreement spread among some of the elders.

I finally moved beside her and held her hand. We were close enough for them all to see.

"Is this true?" one elder asked me cautiously. "Cassian... She is your mate?"

I didn't hesitate. "Yes."

The word dropped like a stone. Catherine's face went pale.

"That's impossible!" she snapped. "She was already promised to..."

"To whom?" I cut in sharply.

My eyes shifted to My Elder sister Lydia. She stood up. "Now that my Junior Brother Cassian got his mate. We all know he spent 30 years without a mate. Shouldn't we forget about the love letter and talk about my brother taking the Alpha king position. You all said he has no mate so he CAN'T be the Alpha King."

Dominic rushed in, he was actually hiding behind the door all along. He wanted to watch the outcome of their fake love letter.

He cut in. " Elders, you all said I would be the next Alpha since Uncle Cassian has no mate nor offspring.."

His mum rushed him, giving him signs to shut up.

He stood stiff, jaw clenched. "Mother, let me say it. I deserve the Alpha seat. Uncle Cassian has no mate. You all promised me the seat!!"

I tilted my head slightly. "You are being so delusional Dominic. How can someone like you be the Alpha? Do you have any special skills? The only thing special here is that Elena goes to the Alpha Kings Academy!!. Who are you Dominic?" I turned to my second Gamma Roman. "Slap him if he talks again!!"

He turned and held Elena's hands. "That's why I have to marry Elena. Uncle, I have to marry Elena. Let her go for my sake. You can always find a different mate." He said and my Gamma Roman slapped him and he fell to the ground.

His mum rushed to him. "Are you okay Dominic." she turned to me angrily. "What are you doing Cassian? He is still a child. You don't have to be so harsh!!"

Lydia walked to them. "Catherine, aren't you ashamed? Just look at your son's behavior. Who in here will let a reckless boy be the Alpha. How is this old man ready to impregnate a wolf? A child?"

Dominic stood up and dragged Elena's hand. "Elena, tell Uncle Cassia that you love me. Only you have the right here to reject him."

I signalled my gamma Roman, and he gagged his mouth, dragging him out.

As he was being dragged out his new sister was coming in. She had two maids coming in with her with shopping bags.

She stopped in her tracks.."What is going on here?" She didn't greet anyone or look at their faces. "Mother, why is Elena here? I thought you said you would lock her up for a week, without food. Why is she still here?"

The air grew heavier. No one dared to speak. They only stared at each other. They must be wondering why my Elder brother has useless children.

Her mum pulled her to the side. "This is my daughter from the countryside. She loves talking nonsense. Please don't blame her or believe her." she said, smiling nervously.

She pulled away from her. "Mum but we agreed to lock her up for weeks. Why is she walking freely..." Catherine used her hands to cover her mouth, but she pushed her away.

Lilliana's eyes met mine. She pointed at me. "Mum, why is this cripple man here? He is the reason the school suspended me. He..."

My Gamma Roman didn't waste time, he kicked her with force. She fell to the ground and fainted. He touched her nostril. He turned to me. "She has passed out, not dead yet."

Catherine rushed to her and signalled their maid to carry her. She stared at me, her anger boiling, then turned to Elena.

"Elena, help the maid to take your sister inside." she said, giving her eyes signs to leave.

Elena was clearly uncomfortable by the signs. She knew she must be up to no good.

I pulled Elena slightly behind me.A silent claim and A warning to her.

"From today," I said, voice calm but absolute, "Elena belongs to me."

Everyone pause.Then I added, my eyes darkened.."Anyone who disagrees... can challenge me. I don't want to see even a slightest mark on her neck or her hand. Anybody who disobeys wants Cassian WolfHart to be their enemy." I said with Authority, my eyes shining blue as I dropped the command.

All the Elders in the hall were frightened. Of course no one dared to cross me, because all others that tried, they all died the next morning without a death cause.

"Push me out." I said to Elena. Rowan left my wheelchair and Elena held it. She held my hand and used the other to push me slowly till we were out. She wanted us to look in love. I knew she was using me to have authority in the house

We got outside and I let go of her hands like it was dirty. She smiled sweetly.

"Elena, I don't keep women that have no values. And my Luna will have to be the most powerful woman that left the Alpha Kings Academy."

She bent to my level on the wheelchair and smiled sweetly. Her smiles sent shivers to my wolf. He was trying to come out and devour her. But I pushed her off my lap. "Talk and don't touch!!" I warned.

She said, "I Love You Uncle Cassian. I will do anything for you." Her words were sweet but it showed no love in her eyes.

I scoff, shaking my head. Does she really think I am easy to deceive? "In your Love letter for me. Are you really sure it's for me?"

She shifted backward, smiling nervously. "Y..y..yes. ..of course." she lied, her eyes blinking continuously.

She had no idea I knew when she lied.

"But in your Love letter you said. And I quote.."Your silver hair makes my heart flutter. I want to cut them and put them in my bag. So I can...." I stopped and stared at her forehead, already sweating. She must be trying to disappear into thin air.

"Elena, all my life I have jet black hair. Who is the silver-haired man?"