Ella POV Michael had just returned from a trip with friends to a neighboring pack’s land for some casual camping. From the way he spoke about it, the outing had been uneventful, making Diana’s exuberant welcome feel even more out of place. Of course, I wouldn’t comment on it; the tension in the
Whatever the case, Michael’s curiosity was obvious, and it struck me as unfair. He deserved the chance to explore the world beyond his pack’s borders. “How old are you?” I asked, tilting my head slightly. Michael looked so young, but he had to be close to my age. “Eighteen,” he answered, his ton
Ella POV Hazel led Alexander and me up the stairs to a large bedroom. It contained a four-poster bed, a sturdy dresser, and a plush recliner with a quilt thrown over the back. The furniture was heavy, hand-carved wood, radiating an air of craftsmanship. The room itself, however, was sparsely dec
I eagerly stepped in, letting the water wash over my weary body. The tension from the long day melted away as the warmth soothed my muscles and cleared my mind. It didn't take long for my mind to wander. Sleeping in the same bed with Alexander shouldn’t have been a big deal, and yet the thought al
Ella POV “What happened? Why did I hear a scream?” Diana asked as she knocked on the door. I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out. My heart pounded harder, and for a moment, I was completely frozen. Alexander, however, didn’t seem fazed. Straightening up, he turned toward the door, h
“I don’t know what you mean,” I replied, but the knowing look he gave me made it clear he saw through my denial. “Go ahead and ask your questions,” he said, his tone calm. “There’s no reason to be hesitant with me. You want to know about my relationship with my mother.” I hesitated, unsure if I
Alexander POV Ella lay quiet and still beside me, her breathing steady but her body tense. Despite her insistence that this arrangement was fine, I knew she was uncomfortable. I couldn’t blame her—this situation was awkward, to say the least. As I lay there, the memory of that night crept into m
Listening for the sound of his footsteps returning. Hoping to feel the mattress shift under his weight again. But the room remained quiet, and he never came back. I drifted in and out of the awkward space between sleep and wakefulness, only opening my eyes when I heard birds chirping outside t
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