“That was strange,” he commented, his tone casual but watchful.“She seemed young,” I replied, shrugging. “She’s probably just nervous.”James shrugged noncommittally, and we fell into a comfortable silence as we walked back toward Alexander's office. I took a sip of my tea. It was sweet as usual, b
Ella POVAt the sound of David's name, James stood from his seat. He moved in front of me, his arm stretched out protectively. He didn’t know David, but his sharp gaze locked onto the man who was rapidly closing the distance between us.David must have realized he’d been spotted because suddenly sto
I tried to turn, desperate to run in the opposite direction, but my body wouldn’t cooperate. The vertigo hit me like a wave, making it impossible to stay upright.With each step I attempted, nausea surged. The world tilted, and I felt my strength slipping away.I staggered, holding myself up against
Ella POVThe elevator doors slid open, and David scooped me up in one swift motion. I struggled, pushing against him with all my strength, but it did nothing to break his grip. His hold was unyielding as he stepped out into the hallway.Then he started running. The jarring motion of his sprint sent
I turned my head away, tears falling down my cheeks.“I wonder what’s more valuable,” David mused. “I could blackmail you and get the wealth your pack has to offer.” He moved to the foot of the bed and grabbed my ankle, pulling me towards him. “Or, I could make you a movie star and make a fortune se
The sound of Alexander’s voice spurred David into action, but he wasn’t fast enough. With two loud bangs, the door burst open. Alexander strode in, a look of anger on his face. His eyes fixed on me immediately and i saw the expression freeze as he took in the scene.David was standing between me and
Ella POVA chill ran through me, and goosebumps rose along my arms. There was so much intensity in Alexander's words that I didn’t doubt for a second he meant them.I watched as David paused, the gravity of the situation sinking in. But after a moment, he shook off his hesitation and lunged forward,
Ella POVAlexander quietly led me into his office building, away from the crowds on the busy streets. I was wearing my skirt and Alexander’s suit coat, since my own shirt had been destroyed. Alexander had made a few phone calls, then helped me dress and ushered me out of the hotel as quickly and cal
Ella POVThe night we had been working towards for so long was finally here. It didn’t seem real, but it was finally happening.It was election night.All day Alexander and I had been answering questions from reporters and making phonecalls to voters, hoping to get as many people as possible to show
He glanced at me, a knowing look passing between us. We would face whatever came next together.After dinner, Sabrina and Alexander took Lexie up to get ready for bed. She wanted a bedtime story from Alexander and he seemed happy to do it.Once we were alone in the living room, my mother pulled me t
Ella POVAlexander and I spent the day in my family’s packlands with Lexie, a rare moment of peace before the election.The official statement revealing Lexie’s identity had been carefully crafted—Alexander had asked for privacy for her sake.The response had been mixed, but most people saw it as a
“It does,” Elizabeth said. “But people also fear what they don’t understand. Alexander has spent years in the shadows. Half of what he’s done is still a secret. People don’t know that he’s…” she hesitated, looking away for a moment. “Now, they’re being asked to trust him with the kingdom.” She sighe
Ella POVI sat across from Elizabeth at a quiet restaurant, a half-empty glass of wine in front of me. The air between us was lighter than it had been in months, but there was still an unspoken tension—a lingering wound that was still healing.Elizabeth had taken the revelations about Alexander, Dav
Ella POVThe news of Ironfang’s arrest tore through the kingdom like wildfire. Fear gripped the people as they learned the horrifying truth—powerful figures within their own government had been working with the North.For years, the enemy had been closer than anyone had realized, pulling strings in
Alexander POVI stood before the King, my body still weak from the poison, but my mind sharp and steady. Ella stood at my side, her presence grounding me, a silent promise that we would face whatever came next together.I could feel the weight of her gaze on me, the quiet strength she offered just b
Ella POVIt took several days before Alexander could stay awake for more than a few minutes at a time.Those days felt like an eternity to me, sitting at his bedside, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest, hoping for any sign of improvement. The doctors assured me that the worst had passed, b
The King’s orders were not something you ignored. And though I had no desire to leave Alexander’s side, I couldn’t risk further angering the King—especially when I had no idea what he would do with the information I had.Still, my resolve weakened as she glanced at Alexander one last time. “He’ll be