Ella POV I stepped out of the car, and the expression on my mother’s face hardened instantly. She looked angry—furious, even—and I couldn’t imagine what I’d done to deserve it. My mind raced as I walked toward her, trying to figure out the reason for her mood. Then it struck me. My stomach dropp
"It does seem like you’ve been busy every minute of the day," she said, a hint of sadness in her tone. "We’ve hardly had a chance to talk." "Oh, that reminds me," I said, seizing the moment. "As long as we have a chance now, I wanted to ask you about dress shopping." "Oh?" she said, raising an e
Ella POV Alexander continued lifting weights, but every time I glanced his way, I found him looking at me. I couldn’t exactly complain, considering I was staring at him just as much. Still, it made me uneasy. We were supposed to be keeping our distance, not giving in to our mutual attraction. It
"Yes," I said, dipping my fingers into the warm water. "I’m also doing some occupational therapy, and I’m hoping the combination will help me recover my wolf more quickly." Her eyes softened with genuine curiosity. "Do you feel it’s making a difference? Have you noticed anything yet?" I hesitate
Ella POV Alexander knew exactly what he was doing to me—the closeness of his body, the heat radiating from his workout, and the effortless way he carried himself. There was no way my reaction was unexpected, and I refused to let him see just how much he was affecting me. Without overthinking, I
Whether or not he believed me, I wouldn’t be able to keep it to myself. The anxiety I felt at the prospect of spending time with Diana wasn’t entirely tied to her attitude toward Alexander—or at least, that was all I could be certain of. There was no other reason I should feel uneasy around her… was
Ella POV The castle was even more incredible than I had imagined. Alexander and I arrived early Saturday morning, just as planned. Though it was only a twenty-minute drive from his office in the capital, it felt like we had been transported to another world. Surrounded by dense forest and perfec
“The dress will be a surprise,” I said, keeping my smile intact. “That’s the tradition, after all.” “Are you always so traditional?” he asked, his voice turning suggestive as he looked at me in a way that made my skin prickle. Alexander immediately stepped closer, sliding his arm around me prote
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