Mute

Chapter 46

Caspian’s POV.

As I returned to the castle, exhaustion weighed heavy on my shoulders, but the sight of Ellen waiting for me with teary eyes dispelled any thoughts of rest. Concern etched into my features, I approached her, asking softly, “Ellen, are you okay?”

Her response was a shake of the head, tears glistening in her eyes as she pleaded with me in desperation. “Caspian, please,” she implored, her voice trembling with emotion. “Marry me. Make me your Luna. We can have a small ceremony, just the two of us, and then I’ll be crowned. The mockery will lessen, I promise.”

Her words cut through the air like a dagger, and for a moment, I hesitated, torn between sympathy and duty. But then, with a heavy heart, I spoke the truth. “Ellen, I cannot, I confessed, my voice firm but gentle. “I don’t love you. I cannot marry you.”

Her **bs grew louder, her grip tightening on my shirt as she clung to me desperately. “But I love you, Caspian,” she cried, her words a desperate plea. “Don’t leave me for Aria. Please, don’t.”

My heart ached at her pain, but I knew I could not relent. “I’m sorry, Ellen,” I murmured, my voice heavy with regret. “But I cannot change how I feel. I cannot marry you!”

Despite her protests, I stood firm in my decision, knowing that to do otherwise would only bring more pain in the long run. And as Ellen’s tears continued to fall, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt for the heartbreak I had caused.

But I knew that staying true to myself was the only way forward, even if it meant hurting someone I once cared for deeply. And so, with a heavy heart, I gently disentangled myself from her embrace.

Ellen’s tears seemed to fuel her desperation as she continued to follow me, despite my repeated explanations. With each step, her s***bs grew louder, echoing through the corridors of the castle like a mournful symphony.

“I can’t accept that, Caspian,” she cried, her voice trembling with emotion. “I won’t let you go. I refuse to believe that you don’t love me.”

Her refusal was met with a heavy sigh from me as I tried to reason with her once more. “Ellen, please,” I urged, my tone tinged with frustration. “You’re only causing yourself more pain by clinging to false hope. You deserve someone who loves you completely.”

But my words fell on deaf ears as Ellen’s distress reached a breaking poin lash out, smashing and destroying anything within reach.

In a fit of rage and despair, she began to

The guards rushed forward, attempting to restrain her, but she fought back with a ferocity fueled by heartbreak. Her screams filled the air, echoing off the stone walls as she cried out in anguish.

“I won’t leave you, Caspian!” she wailed, her voice raw with emotion. “I won’t leave this castle! You’re being brainwashed by this f***g matebond thing, can’t you see?

Her words struck a chord within me, a pang of guilt gnawing at my conscience as I watched her spiral into despair. But no matter how much I wished I could ease her pain, I knew that marrying her would only prolong her suffering.

With a heavy heart, I clenched my jaw, knowing that there was nothing more I could do to console her. As her cries echoed through the castle halls, I couldn’t help but wonder if there would ever be peace for me, or for her.

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As I wood made the chaos that Ellen’s outburst had wrought, a heavy weight settled upon my shoulders. I knew that my refusal to marry her hard caused her immense pain, but I also knew that bringing her into a marriage where love was absent would only hurt her further.

Despite her protests and pleas. I couldn’t ignore the truth that lingered in the depths of my heart. My feelings for Ellen were not what she deserved in a partner. My heart did not belong to her, and to marry her out of pity or obligation would be a grave disservice to us both.

With a heavy sigh, I turned away from the scene, a pang of guilt gnawing at my conscience as I left Ellen behind in her anguish. Though it pained me to see her suffer, I knew that staying true to my own feelings was the only way forward

As I walked to my room, the echoes of Ellen’s cries still rang in my ears. The weight of the evening’s events settled heavily on my shoulders. Pushing the door open, I was greeted by the familiar, albeit stark, surroundings of my quarters. I needed a moment to gather my thoughts, to process everything that had happened.

Before I could even sit down, there was a knock at the door. It was Elijah. His presence, usually comforting brought with it a reminder that our problems were far from over.

“Come in,” I called out, my voice betraying my exhaustion.

Elijah stepped inside, his expression serious. “We need to talk, Caspian

I nodded, gesturing for him to take a seat. “I know. It’s about the rogues, isn’t it?”

Elijah nodded, sitting across from me. “Ethan and his sisters weren’t the only ones involved. We’ve received reports of more attacks. There are others out there, still targeting our pack members.”

The thought of more innocent lives being at risk made my stomach churn. “Do we have any leads on their whereabouts?”

“Not many,” Elijah admitted. “But we do know they’re moving in small groups, attacking isolated members and then disappearing before we can respond. It’s like they know our moves before we make them.”

I rubbed my temples, feeling the onset of a headach “We need to find a way to track them down. We can’t let this continue.”

Elijah leaned forward, his eyes sharp. “I’ve already sent out scouts to gather more information. We’ll need to increase patrols and ensure everyone is on high alert. This isn’t over, and we can’t afford to let our guard down.”

I nodded in agreement. “We also need to find out who’s leading them now that Ethan is gone. There has to be someone coordinating these attacks.”

Elijah’s expression darkened. “I have a few ideas, but nothing concrete yet. It’s possible one of Ethan’s allies has taken charge, or there might be a new leader we haven’t identified.”

The enormity of the situation pressed down on me. “We’ll need to act fast. We can’t let them gain any more ground.”

Elijah stood up, his determination mirroring my own. “I’ll keep you updated on any new information we gather. In the meantime, you should get some rest. We’re going to need all the strength we can muster for what lies ahead.”

I managed a weary smile. “Thank you, Elijah. I appreciate everything you’re doing.”

He nodded, his eyes showing a flicker of concern. “Just take care of yourself, Caspian. We need you at your best.”

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