The Eternal Bound

Zen glanced at Val's serious face in the corner of the room. The man with the glasses had finished checking on Elyna, who was, indeed, suffering from a high fever.

"I think Elyna has a weak immune system, Val. Her immune system is almost the same as that of an ordinary human. Her body easily gets a fever just because she gets caught in the rain, and she can get sick just because she's eating late. I suggest you start managing her lifestyle from now on. It's rare for me to find a werewolf with this kind of immune system, even though she's a half-blood," said Zen concernedly. Val looked at Elyna, who was sleeping after being given medicine, before turning to his brother.

"My inner wolf tells me that there's something that makes her different from other werewolves. I feel it, but I don't know what it is," said Val confusedly.

Zen raised his eyebrows. "What kind of different do you mean? You know I can read someone's condition-"

"Unless you can't read her, or her power isn't something you can read," Val interrupted.

Zen fell silent. He seemed to be thinking hard before patting his brother's shoulder gently.

"That could happen. If so, Elyna is a special werewolf. I hope you protect her well. She really depends on you as her mate."

***

Elyna woke up with a stuffy nose that made her head hurt. Her body was cold, and only the touch of someone's hand managed to warm her forehead.

After forcing herself, Elyna finally looked up. She saw Val, who was examining her carefully. Elyna's face was getting redder, and Val, who realized that Elyna had woken up, was even more worried because of the change in color on Elyna's face.

"Your fever is getting higher. I'll call Zen-"

"Don't!"

Elyna's hoarse scream stopped Val's movement. The man raised his eyebrows in confusion, quite surprised that Elyna dared to interrupt his words earlier.

Elyna twisted her clothes restlessly. Val's sharp gaze seemed to penetrate her. Elyna bit her lip restlessly. She was confused about where to start talking after managing to forcefully stop Val from going.

"Did... did I trouble you again?"

Again?

Elyna's eyes were filled with regret. Although faint, Elyna heard when Zen said how weak her body was. Now Val must have known about her body condition, about how weak she was even though she still had werewolf blood.

In the past, she was thrown out of her original pack for that reason. They were just a small pack that usually accepted all the conditions of other werewolves to enlarge the pack. Elyna couldn't imagine what her situation would be like now in a large pack that was only filled with strong people.

Secretly, Elyna started to cry. She hated her situation, where no matter how hard she tried, she was still the weakest half-blood werewolf of all time.

Elyna rubbed her eyes roughly. This was what she had been afraid of since yesterday. Where would she go if Val threw her away?

This morning, Elyna had been happy to find something new that she had felt in her entire life. A good new friend, even though he was human.

And now...

"Stop rubbing your eyes. Look, they're so red now."

A large hand stopped Elyna's hand, which was busy rubbing her eyes. Val's expression was still unpredictable, but there was a trace of worry. His eyes stared straight at Elyna, whose tears slowly turned into sobs.

"Why are you crying?"

Elyna is sad. Should she say out loud that she was ashamed of being born as the weakest werewolf of all time? Awkwardly called Luna by a big pack? Which one should Elyna say first?

A gentle stroke was felt on Elyna's cheek. She stared in surprise. She forgot about her tears and just stared innocently at Val afterward.

"I never mind keeping you in my pack. Be obedient and loyal to me, then I will protect you well until you are free to do whatever you want," Val promised. His hand went down to stroke Elyna's smooth neck, with his gaze never leaving the girl's beautiful eyes.

"Did someone say something bad about you?" Val asked softly.

Elyna shook her head slowly. Although Eir looked annoyed every time she saw her, the girl's treatment was nothing compared to the treatment she received in her original pack.

"Lunar Pack."

Elyna paused her sentence, looking at Val with teary eyes.

"Lunar Pack is my original pack. They excluded me when they found out I was born as a half-blood, even though my mother was the only child of the pack leader. And... sob, with a body that was no stronger than an ordinary human... I have been a burden to every pack I have lived in," Elyna sobbed softly.

"The peak was when my mother died. They kicked me out, and since then, I've always moved from pack to pack. They all always threw me away because they considered me a burden. Sob, no one could give me an oath of loyalty. No pack wanted to protect a weak halfblood like me..."

Elyna's soft hands roughly rubbed her own eyes. Elyna was frustrated. Why did she have to be born this weak?

A werewolf, even if she is a half-blood, is always born with the power given by the Goddess that far exceeds ordinary humans. Elyna was the first half-werewolf born without the blessing of a goddess and a body that was weaker than humans.

"Sob, only the Wood Pack wanted to accept me. They helped me when I was injured by a wild werewolf in the forest. They took care of me and treated me like part of their family. Even though they were a small pack, they never once complained about bearing a burden like me. I easily got fevers, tired, and cried easily. But they still loved me."

Elyna hugged her legs, crying as she remembered how the hunters caught the pack members and killed many of them.

"They fed me, they gave me clothes, they cared for me with love. Sob, when the hunters attacked our pack, I was the only one who survived. I became their burden! They asked me to run when they tried to fight those terrible hunters!"

Elyna cried uncontrollably. For the second time, she spilled all her feelings in front of Val.

Since being rescued by Val, Elyna was afraid that the person the Godness had appointed to be her mate would experience the same incident as her previous pack. They were all fighting to protect her, fighting to protect a weak half-blood like her.

But, on the other hand, Elyna was reluctant. Even though she is weak, Elyna still wants to live like everyone else. That was the reason why she had always survived. No matter how hard life is, Elyna wants to live for the next few days.

Elyna cried desperately until she felt a warm hug.

Her headache slowly got better due to the gentle rubbing that Val gave her.

"Yes, you are indeed a weak half-blood who is a crybaby and too difficult for me to handle," Val said as if adding to the pain of Elyna's broken heart.

Elyna was about to cry again before Val's second statement made her silent.

"But you are not a half-blood who troubles others. You always bear everything yourself, even if you don't have to bear everything alone."

Elyna felt a warm touch on her face. Val wiped away her tears. Cupping her reddish cheeks with a deep stare.

"I am a great pack leader who cannot be shaken. What are you worried about? The hunters are even afraid when they hear my name. And you, you are the Luna of this pack. That fact alone proves that the Moon Goddess recognizes you as a strong werewolf, someone who is suitable to be paired with me," Val explained. His eyes softened slightly as he stared into Elyna's watery eyes.

"So don't cry anymore. If someone has never made an oath for you, then let me be the one to swear an oath of loyalty for you. I, Val Silver Oakley, the rightful leader of the Silver Moon Pack. The Alpha of all Alphas, have appointed you as my Luna. You are safe as long as you are in my territory, and everyone is required to obey you. My queen, the mate I have been looking for."

Elyna cried even harder. An oath that contained power could only be done by a strong alpha. However, Val did not only swear an oath for her. Although at first Elyna was sure that Val hated her, in front of her, the man swore to accept Elyna as his Luna seriously.

Val smiled. Although Val never planned to consider Elyna as his partner anytime soon, he was happy when he saw the happiness that replaced the sadness on Elyna's face.

"I didn't say that to make you cry harder," Val warned casually. Elyna slowly lifted her face, looking at Val seriously as her crying slowly stopped.

"You, sob, promised. I promise that this time, I will succeed. I will become strong so that one day I can protect you!"

Val didn't say anything. He just ruffled Elyna's hair gently, then got up from his seat.

"No need to rush for that. I will wait for you to be ready for however long it takes. We have plenty of time, so do it slowly."

Val forced Elyna to lie down again. The man pulled the blanket over Elyna's body and kissed her eyes softly until her body froze.

"Go to sleep. Crying makes your fever rise. I will call Zen to check on you again."

CLACK!

The door closed, leaving Elyna with a face flushed with embarrassment.

What was that?!