Fated mate bond? Horace’s reaction is instantaneous—violent rejection. A snarl bubbles up, barely contained beneath the surface. She’s lying. But the damage is already done. The crowd murmurs, questions flying as eyes dart between me, Lila, and Siena. And then— Lila pulls out photographs
(Siena’s POV) The celebration hums around me, the energy electric, the room alive with laughter and congratulations.For the first time in years, I feel a fragile sense of happiness, a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, this night marks the turning point I’ve longed for.Windhowl has proven i
The crowd’s murmurs grow louder, their pitying glances cutting through me like knives. I see it in their eyes—the confirmation of what I’ve always feared. To them, I’ll always be the rejected Luna, never good enough to hold my mate’s attention. The humiliation is unbearable. But then, something
(Raiden’s POV) The ceremonial rings are still in my pocket, their weight unbearable.I haven’t pulled them out since Siena’s declaration, but I can feel them pressing against my leg like a constant reminder of my failure.I can still hear her voice, calm and steady as it cut through the chaos of t
“She intercepted everything,” Zion says grimly, flipping through a stack of papers. “She blocked her calls, deleted her messages. She wanted to isolate Siena. To make you believe she wasn’t worth your time.” I feel sick. Horace howls in my mind, the sound raw and guttural, echoing the grief clawin
(Siena’s POV) The sea glitters under the sun, the waves rolling lazily toward the rocky shore.Above it all, the whitewashed buildings cling to the cliffs like they belong there, timeless and unshaken.It’s beautiful here—breathtaking, even—but no matter how far I travel or how much beauty surroun
I don’t know how to respond to that. Letting go is exactly what I’ve been trying to do, but I don’t feel lighter. If anything, I feel heavier, dragged down by the memories I can’t seem to escape. “I don’t know about that,” I say finally, my voice quieter than I intended. “But… maybe I’m learning t
(Raiden’s POV)The office is empty, but it doesn’t feel that way.It’s been six months since Siena left, and yet I can feel her presence in every corner of this room. Her scent lingers faintly, a mix of lavender and something distinctly hers, though it’s fading with time.The desk, still meticulousl
Instinct takes over, primal and fierce, yet beneath each attack lies hesitation, reluctance. I lunge forward, jaws snapping, heart twisting painfully as Zion dodges skilfully aside, countering swiftly.Each strike, each blow, shatters more deeply into my conscience.I pin him briefly, my jaws inches
(Raiden's POV)The sky above Windhowl dawns blood-red, as if even the heavens condemn my foolish pride.I stand alone at the edge of the ceremonial grounds, where ancient trees tower solemnly, their branches stretched out like silent judges over today's proceedings.The clearing we chose for the due
How I’ll manage to look at him again, after hearing those words, I’ll never know.Entering his office, I find him already seated, his expression carefully neutral, his eyes guarded. My heart stutters painfully, and my emotions swirl chaotically. Silently, I extend the documents required for my depar
(Siena’s POV)“I've already forgotten about her.”Raiden's cold dismissal echoes through my mind, each word tearing into wounds I thought long healed, forcing my carefully constructed emotional walls to tremble, to fracture, threaten collapse.My legs swiftly carry me into the darkened forest, lungs
How did we come to this, Zion and I? Lifelong friends, now torn apart by jealousy, pride, and my own stubborn denial.Before either of us can speak again, a quiet, faint scent drifts through the open doorway—familiar and hauntingly sweet.Siena.My blood turns to ice in my veins, and my heart plumme
(Raiden's POV)The instant Zion utters Siena's name, something dark and primal explodes to life inside me.I'm standing by the window of my office, staring out at the twilight shadows creeping slowly across Windhowl, when he casually, confidently announces his intentions—words that slice through me
I stare at the compass, my fingers tracing the carvings as Horace stirs again, her emotions a mix of curiosity and reluctant admiration. “May it guide you home,” Raiden says quietly, his voice carrying an undercurrent of something I can’t quite name. “Whatever home means for you now.” His words
(Siena’s POV) I don’t sleep. Raiden’s words replay in my mind over and over, as insistent as the spring rain drumming against the windows of my temporary quarters.I love you, Siena.Not as a political arrangement or a convenient alliance, but for exactly who you are. For years, I longed to he
“My opposition was… personal rather than political.”The confession costs me more deeply than I could have anticipated.Admitting my pettiness, admitting my inability to separate emotion from responsibility—it feels like peeling away a carefully maintained facade, exposing wounds I’ve long worked to