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 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
Liz’s POV Everything happened so fast from there. Lumian still stood frozen; his lips parted, eyes locked on Robert like he couldn’t comprehend the words. He didn't want to believe that his trust beta would say them. Arthur took a step forward, his face filled with rage, and his body tensed like a coil ready to strike. I thought he was going to grab Robert, demand answers, throw him against the wall, and do something. But he didn’t get the chance. The door slammed open behind them, and Carlos stormed in. “What the fuck did you just say?” Carlos growled, eyes wild and locked on Robert. He didn’t wait for a reply. Carlos lunged forward like a bullet, slamming into Robert so hard they both crashed to the floor. Robert didn’t even try to defend himself. He just lay there, eyes hollow, mouth slightly parted like he’d already surrendered to whatever punishment Carlos had in store. “You killed her!” Carlos screamed, his fists crashing down onto Robert’s face with bone-snapping force.
Liz’s POVI was tired of listening to the fighting, the shouting, and the way Lumian’s voice filled the room as if it still held weight as if he had the right to speak for me. As if anything he said could undo the damage.Arthur was trying. I could see that. Every word he flung was for me. He wanted the truth no one else was willing to dig deep enough to face. And for that, I was grateful in ways I didn’t know how to say out loud. If I still had a heart to give, I think it would’ve reached for him then.But Lumian?He was still trying to protect his own comfort and reputation as alpha. Still denying, hiding behind “my Beta wouldn’t lie” and “Sura confessed,” as if that was enough. One scared omega could’ve done all of this alone. He hadn't just failed me. He had failed the whole pack by being so wrapped up in Judy and letting someone come into his pack and take one of his own. I could feel it in my bones that soon, the pack would begin to question him as their alpha.I couldn’t stand
Arthur’s POVI told myself I was going to be civil. That I would walk into Lumian’s office, ask a few questions, and keep my temper buried beneath whatever scraps of control I had left.But the moment I neared his door, I felt the pressure building again tight and hot, like a dam ready to burst.I stepped inside without knocking.Lumian looked like hell. He was slouched over his desk, elbows pressed into the wood, his hands running through his hair like he’d been clawing for clarity that wouldn’t come. A cup of coffee sat untouched beside him, long gone cold.When he lifted his head, the shadows beneath his eyes were deeper than I’d ever seen them. But the tension between us crackled instantly.“Alpha King Arthur,” he said, flat and guarded.I didn’t waste time. “Did you speak with Robert?” He nodded once. “Yeah. I did.”“And?”Lumian leaned back. The chair creaked beneath him. “Same as before. He said he didn’t see Liz that day.”My jaw tightened. “That’s a lie.” “You don’t know that
Robert’s POV I left Judy’s room in silence. Her denials, her hurt expression they, echoed in my mind, but I couldn’t focus on any of it. I didn’t know if she was lying or not. At this point, I didn’t know anything. My head was spinning, my chest tight. I just needed to think to work it all out. I headed toward the edge of the compound, away from the crowd, away from the whispers and the guilt I could feel crawling under my skin. The further I walked, the heavier my legs became. I sat on a bench just outside the old training ring, elbows on my knees, palms pressed together. And then I started to go over it minute by minute. The day Liz disappeared. I had been stationed near the south gate. I remember it clearly because nothing felt unusual… until Judy linked me. She had sounded panicked. Said Liz forced her to leave. Said she was scared. Told me I had to stop her. So, I left my post. Fifteen minutes. That’s all. I found Liz. Running errands being the perfect luna tha
Robert’s POV I didn’t stop to think. I just went straight to her. Her room was as pristine as ever, with flowers in a vase by the window and a book half-open on the armrest. She looked up as I walked in, surprised but not alarmed. “Robert?” Her voice was soft, light. “What’s wrong?” I closed the door behind me. “We need to talk.” She sat up slowly, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. “Of course. About what?” “You,” I said, keeping my voice low. “And Liz.” Her eyes didn’t change not right away. But I saw it. A flicker of tension beneath the calm. “I remembered something,” I continued. “The day Liz went missing… You mind-linked me. Said she forced you to leave. That you were upset and scared that she was going to do it again.” She nodded slowly. “I remember.” “I left my post,” I said. “Because of you.” She blinked at me as if waiting for the point. “I need to know the truth, Judy.” I stepped closer. “Did you lie to me? Did Liz really force you out of the pack or had
Robert’s POVThe mind-link came through.“Robert. Come to my office. Now.” Lumian’s voice was clipped, strained, barely masking the edge of something darker beneath.I hadn’t slept. Not properly. Not since they found her. Not since I saw her lying there, cold and still, and realised it was too late to fix the things I never said.I didn’t ask questions. Just shifted direction and headed straight for his office.When I stepped in, he was already pacing. His movements were restless, the way they got when something didn’t sit right.He stopped when he saw me. “Arthur seems to believe you saw Liz the day she went missing,” he said, getting straight to the point.His words knocked the wind straight out of me, and I struggled to stand there. I did.But I hadn’t told anyone that. The only other person who knew… was Liz. I stared at Lumian, my mouth suddenly dry. “Why would he think that?” Lumian narrowed his eyes. “That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”For a moment, I couldn’t speak. I coul
Arthur’s POVI sat at the side of the room, arms crossed tightly over my chest, as one by one, the guards and staff filtered in. Liz sat beside me, quiet, unmoving.Lumian asked most of the questions. His voice was clipped and mechanical as if he were just trying to get through the process.The guards answered everything the same way. No, they hadn’t seen her leave again after coming home from shopping. Yes, they had been on duty. No, nothing unusual. It felt rehearsed like they’d all convinced themselves there was nothing to question in the first place.My eyes drifted toward Liz. Her face was unreadable, but her hands were clenched tightly in her lap. She studied everyone, even Lumian. And every time he brushed past a detail or cut off a question, her jaw tensed.The last guard exited, and silence fell over the room. Lumian leaned back in his chair with a frustrated sigh, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose.“We’ve gotten nothing,” he muttered. “All of them saying the same thing
Lumian’s POVI hadn’t moved all night.The ballroom was quiet now. The scent of her still lingered, soft and haunting beneath the sharp tang of blood and grief. I had been sitting there beside her body for hours through the silence, the dark, and the ache that wouldn’t leave my chest.Her lifeless face was the only thing I saw when I closed my eyes… and when they were open.She didn’t look angry. Or scared. She looked peaceful. And somehow, that made it worse. Because she hadn’t died peacefully, she had died scared, alone. Begging for someone to help her. Begging for me.And I hadn’t come.I’d failed her.Not just as her mate but as her Alpha.My legs ached when I finally stood. The early light of morning bled through the high windows, pale and unwelcome. A new day had started. But it didn’t feel like something new had begun. It felt like something had ended.I gave her one last glance.“I’m sorry,” I whispered, though it wasn’t nearly enough.I don’t know how I made it to the hallwa
Liz’s POVIt should’ve felt satisfying. Seeing Lumian fall apart, Carlos screams and fights like his heart has only just started beating again. I should’ve felt vindicated.But all I felt was hollow.There was a part of me that had clung to the idea that maybe they cared. That maybe somewhere deep in their souls, they’d felt me slipping away and regretted it. But what I saw in that ballroom wasn’t regret. It was a reaction. They panicked as they realised it was too late.Carlos had looked broken, his grief so raw it had cracked open the room. But I didn’t know what to do with that. He was my brother. He was supposed to protect me. He was supposed to know me better. And Lumian… he was supposed to love me.Instead, I lay in the middle of a room full of strangers who once called me their Luna, and not one of them had come looking for me.Not even him.Arthur’s hand never left mine. He held onto me like he knew that if he let go, I might vanish completely. When he pulled me from that room