Arthur’s POVThe office door opened with a sharp click.Carlos entered quickly, eyes flicking to me, then to Lumian. His shoulders were stiff, posture guarded. The second he stepped in, Lumian gestured toward me.“This is Alpha King Arthur,” Lumian said.Carlos froze, then bowed immediately. “It’s an honour, Your Majesty—”“Where is the Luna?” I cut him off, my tone like a blade slicing through the formalities. Carlos blinked, taken aback. His eyes darted to Lumian for direction, but I didn’t give him the chance.“He is not asking the questions,” I snapped, voice cold. “I am. So answer me.”Carlos straightened slowly. His throat bobbed as he swallowed. “No one knows where she is,” he said. “She’s been missing since the day before yesterday.”My chest tightened, a low heat blooming in my chest.“That’s not all,” I said, voice calm but sharp enough to cut steel. “You’re holding back. I can see it all over your face.”Carlos hesitated.I took a step closer. “Say it.”He swallowed again,
Liz’s POVI stood in the corner of Lumian’s office, silent as ever. Unseen. Unheard. And yet… not untouched.Everything Arthur said cut through me like lightning, splitting the sky. His fury wasn’t performative—it was personal. Real. Every word held weight. Every breath was sharp with the kind of anger that only came from deep loyalty… or love.He had come back. Not as the quiet man I once called Victor. Not as the stranger I took in and trusted. He had come back as a king.And even now, even standing in front of Lumian with fury rolling off him like thunder, he was still the man I remembered.He hadn’t forgotten me.My chest ached, something inside me trembling with an emotion I didn’t quite know what to do with.I didn’t speak. No one could hear me anyway.“You didn’t search for her. You didn’t fight for her. You let your mate vanish,” Arthur growled at Lumian.I flinched—not from fear, but because hearing someone finally say what I’d been craving was like cracking open a wound
Arthur’s POVHer voice was so soft I almost thought I imagined it.“Please tell me you can see me.”My breath caught in my throat.I didn’t move. I Couldn’t.Because I did see her. Right there.Standing in the middle of Lumian’s office like she’d always belonged there—and yet somehow didn’t belong at all.She was pale. Paler than I remembered. Her hair hung around her shoulders like dark silk, but her skin had no colour. No warmth. She stood in the sunlight, but it didn’t touch her. Didn’t wrap around her the way it should have.And she cast no shadow. None of it made any sense to me. My chest constricted.“Alpha King Arthur,” Lumian said behind me, his voice uneasy. “What are you staring at?”I didn’t answer him. I didn't care about him or anyone else in this room other than her.“Arthur?” Finn’s voice now, quieter, closer. Hesitant.Still, I kept my eyes on her. Too scared to look away in case she vanished. She was looking right back at me.Her eyes—Moon above, those eyes. Tired.
Liz’s POVCould he really see me?The way Arthur looked at me—so intently, like I was the only one in the room—left my heart hanging in the balance between hope and heartbreak. My fingers trembled at my sides, and I couldn’t tear my gaze away from his.I wanted to scream. To cry. To fall to my knees and beg him to say it out loud.But then…He looked away.Arthur turned from me like the moment had never happened. Like he hadn’t just stared through every barrier between life and death. Like I was nothing but a flicker in his peripheral vision.My chest ached.No. No, not yet. Don’t go cold on me now.“I’d like some tea,” Arthur said smoothly, turning back to Lumian as if nothing had happened.The shift in tone was jarring. For a second, I wondered if I’d imagined it all—his stare, his tension, that quiet thread connecting us.Lumian jumped to obey, snapping his fingers toward the door. “Right away. I’ll have the servants bring some in.”I stood there frozen, still watching Arthur.He
Arthur’s POV“You must be tired after your travel here,” Lumian said stiffly, the edge of forced politeness in his voice. “I’ve had a room prepared for you. Robert, show Alpha King Arthur to his quarters.”I didn’t respond—just gave a tight nod and followed Robert out of the office, my steps heavy with everything I was still trying to process.The corridors of the Blackthorn Pack were quieter than I remembered. Too quiet. The kind of silence that wrapped around your ribs and squeezed. The kind that said something was deeply wrong.Robert stopped in front of a polished oak door and opened it. “Everything you need should be here, Alpha King.”I didn’t speak. I just walked in and closed the door behind me.The moment I was alone, the weight of everything hit me like a blow to the chest.Liz.Her eyes.Her voice.The way she looked straight at me.I sank down onto the edge of the bed, elbows on my knees, staring at the floor like it held answers. She had been in that room. Not a memory.
Liz’s POVArthur looked at me with something fierce in his eyes—something raw and burning and barely held together.“I’m not leaving,” he said quietly, but there was nothing soft in the way he said it. His voice carried the weight of a promise. “Not until I find a way to fix this. But I need you to tell me everything. Everything you remember.”I nodded slowly, even though the thought of speaking the words out loud made my throat close.“I’ll try,” I whispered. “It’s all… broken. Foggy. Like my memories are behind glass.”He didn’t say anything. Just waited. Steady. Present.So I closed my eyes and reached for the beginning.“I wasn’t doing anything special that day,” I began slowly. “Just running errands to prepare for Lumian’s party. I’d been trying to plan something—something that might make him see me again. Really see me.”My voice trembled, but Arthur didn’t interrupt. His presence was grounding—strong but not suffocating.“I went into town. I thought it’d be a short trip. I had
Liz’s POVI sat curled on the floor near the fireplace, knees hugged to my chest and cried harder than I ever had in my life.Everything that had happened over the past few days—it was too much. I could not hold it in any longer.I had always believed, deep down, that if something happened to me… someone would come. That Lumian would feel it. That my parents would sense something was wrong.But no one came.And Diana… maybe she didn’t even know I was gone. She had her own life now. A mate. Responsibilities. I knew she cared. She was my best friend, but she couldn't see me I didn't blame her for that. She had her own life.I wiped the tears from my cheeks with shaking hands.Arthur kept his eyes on me, watching as though if he looked away for a second, I might disappear forever.The room was quiet, with just the fire crackling behind me. I sat there, trying to pull myself together, but everything felt like it was falling apart again.I turned to him, asking softly. “Can I stay here to
Arthur’s POVI woke with a jolt, breath catching in my throat.Panic clawed at me before I even registered why—until my eyes snapped to the bed.Liz.She was still there.She was lying on her side, facing the window, the faintest glow from the early morning light kissing her beautiful features. She looked peaceful, like an angel, almost like she was just sleeping, like she wasn't a ghost.Relief hit me hard, and I let out a shaky breath, dragging a hand over my tired face.I hadn’t meant to fall asleep. I didn't want to take my eyes off her. Something inside of me had feared that if I did, she might disappear again—flicker out like the ghost she was.But she hadn’t.She was still here.And moon goddess, she was beautiful.I sat there quietly, watching her—taking her in, just for a moment. Just to look at her and imagine she wasn’t stuck between worlds and she was still the living, breathing, beautiful woman that had stolen my heart. I should’ve told her how I felt.Last night, when
Liz’s POVWe followed in silence as Lumian led us toward his office.My steps felt light, too light. Like I wasn’t even walking. Maybe I wasn’t. I wasn’t sure anymore.My thoughts swirled with the weight of what he’d just said. A letter.He said he found a letter.Written in my handwriting.Claiming I left willingly.Saying I’d only return if Judy was gone.I had never written a letter, or had I? I couldn't remember everything from the day that I was murdered, so maybe this was another thing that I had simply just forgotten.Lumina was my mate. He should know what my handwriting looked like.The ache in my chest was unbearable.Arthur didn’t say anything as we walked. But I felt him tense beside me, his energy sharp and boiling beneath the surface.The doors to Lumian’s office opened with a creak, and the familiar room came into view. So many hours I had spent here doing reports, sitting beside him, trying to be enough. Now, it felt foreign. Like I’d never truly belonged in it at all
Arthur’s POV“Answer me.”The words cracked through the air like a whip, echoing off the walls with force that could’ve broken stone.I stood there, eyes locked on Lumian, every nerve in my body tight, my wolf clawing inside of me. I could feel Liz just behind me—her pain was a silent pressure in the air. Her hope was thinner now, fragile, trembling like a flame on the edge of being snuffed out. It was cruel to watch, and every part of me wished I could shield her from this pain.And still, she waited for a man that didn't care for her.So did I.Lumian’s mouth opened. Then closed. His eyes darted away—toward the floor, the walls, anywhere but at me. He was a Coward.“I—” he finally stammered, his voice weak. “It’s not like that.”“Then tell me,” I snapped, struggling to hold back my wolf that wanted to come out and make him pay for the pain that he was coursing her. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks exactly like that.”“I never said I wanted a divorce,” he muttered, almost
Liz’s POVI stood there, still as stone, watching Lumian walk away.He didn’t even flinch. Not a pause. Not a glance over his shoulder.He just left.Like I meant nothing to him.My chest tightened, a quiet ache blooming behind inside me, spreading slowly and sharply, threatening to cripple me. It wasn’t like I expected anything from him anymore—not after everything, not after I had rejected him as my mate—but seeing it so plainly, seeing how easy it was for him to choose her again…It hurt. More than I wanted to admit.“Lumian.” Arthur’s voice cut through the hallway like a blade—rough, low, and unmistakably commanding.Lumian stopped mid-step, his back going rigid. I turned toward Arthur, startled by the edge in his tone. He was glaring at Lumian, his jaw tight, his fists clenched at his sides. There was no trace of the gentleman that I knew. This was someone else entirely.Someone dangerous.Someone protective.Arthur took a step forward, his voice dropping lower. “Do you not
Arthur’s POVI woke with a jolt, breath catching in my throat.Panic clawed at me before I even registered why—until my eyes snapped to the bed.Liz.She was still there.She was lying on her side, facing the window, the faintest glow from the early morning light kissing her beautiful features. She looked peaceful, like an angel, almost like she was just sleeping, like she wasn't a ghost.Relief hit me hard, and I let out a shaky breath, dragging a hand over my tired face.I hadn’t meant to fall asleep. I didn't want to take my eyes off her. Something inside of me had feared that if I did, she might disappear again—flicker out like the ghost she was.But she hadn’t.She was still here.And moon goddess, she was beautiful.I sat there quietly, watching her—taking her in, just for a moment. Just to look at her and imagine she wasn’t stuck between worlds and she was still the living, breathing, beautiful woman that had stolen my heart. I should’ve told her how I felt.Last night, when
Liz’s POVI sat curled on the floor near the fireplace, knees hugged to my chest and cried harder than I ever had in my life.Everything that had happened over the past few days—it was too much. I could not hold it in any longer.I had always believed, deep down, that if something happened to me… someone would come. That Lumian would feel it. That my parents would sense something was wrong.But no one came.And Diana… maybe she didn’t even know I was gone. She had her own life now. A mate. Responsibilities. I knew she cared. She was my best friend, but she couldn't see me I didn't blame her for that. She had her own life.I wiped the tears from my cheeks with shaking hands.Arthur kept his eyes on me, watching as though if he looked away for a second, I might disappear forever.The room was quiet, with just the fire crackling behind me. I sat there, trying to pull myself together, but everything felt like it was falling apart again.I turned to him, asking softly. “Can I stay here to
Liz’s POVArthur looked at me with something fierce in his eyes—something raw and burning and barely held together.“I’m not leaving,” he said quietly, but there was nothing soft in the way he said it. His voice carried the weight of a promise. “Not until I find a way to fix this. But I need you to tell me everything. Everything you remember.”I nodded slowly, even though the thought of speaking the words out loud made my throat close.“I’ll try,” I whispered. “It’s all… broken. Foggy. Like my memories are behind glass.”He didn’t say anything. Just waited. Steady. Present.So I closed my eyes and reached for the beginning.“I wasn’t doing anything special that day,” I began slowly. “Just running errands to prepare for Lumian’s party. I’d been trying to plan something—something that might make him see me again. Really see me.”My voice trembled, but Arthur didn’t interrupt. His presence was grounding—strong but not suffocating.“I went into town. I thought it’d be a short trip. I had
Arthur’s POV“You must be tired after your travel here,” Lumian said stiffly, the edge of forced politeness in his voice. “I’ve had a room prepared for you. Robert, show Alpha King Arthur to his quarters.”I didn’t respond—just gave a tight nod and followed Robert out of the office, my steps heavy with everything I was still trying to process.The corridors of the Blackthorn Pack were quieter than I remembered. Too quiet. The kind of silence that wrapped around your ribs and squeezed. The kind that said something was deeply wrong.Robert stopped in front of a polished oak door and opened it. “Everything you need should be here, Alpha King.”I didn’t speak. I just walked in and closed the door behind me.The moment I was alone, the weight of everything hit me like a blow to the chest.Liz.Her eyes.Her voice.The way she looked straight at me.I sank down onto the edge of the bed, elbows on my knees, staring at the floor like it held answers. She had been in that room. Not a memory.
Liz’s POVCould he really see me?The way Arthur looked at me—so intently, like I was the only one in the room—left my heart hanging in the balance between hope and heartbreak. My fingers trembled at my sides, and I couldn’t tear my gaze away from his.I wanted to scream. To cry. To fall to my knees and beg him to say it out loud.But then…He looked away.Arthur turned from me like the moment had never happened. Like he hadn’t just stared through every barrier between life and death. Like I was nothing but a flicker in his peripheral vision.My chest ached.No. No, not yet. Don’t go cold on me now.“I’d like some tea,” Arthur said smoothly, turning back to Lumian as if nothing had happened.The shift in tone was jarring. For a second, I wondered if I’d imagined it all—his stare, his tension, that quiet thread connecting us.Lumian jumped to obey, snapping his fingers toward the door. “Right away. I’ll have the servants bring some in.”I stood there frozen, still watching Arthur.He
Arthur’s POVHer voice was so soft I almost thought I imagined it.“Please tell me you can see me.”My breath caught in my throat.I didn’t move. I Couldn’t.Because I did see her. Right there.Standing in the middle of Lumian’s office like she’d always belonged there—and yet somehow didn’t belong at all.She was pale. Paler than I remembered. Her hair hung around her shoulders like dark silk, but her skin had no colour. No warmth. She stood in the sunlight, but it didn’t touch her. Didn’t wrap around her the way it should have.And she cast no shadow. None of it made any sense to me. My chest constricted.“Alpha King Arthur,” Lumian said behind me, his voice uneasy. “What are you staring at?”I didn’t answer him. I didn't care about him or anyone else in this room other than her.“Arthur?” Finn’s voice now, quieter, closer. Hesitant.Still, I kept my eyes on her. Too scared to look away in case she vanished. She was looking right back at me.Her eyes—Moon above, those eyes. Tired.