Ella POV The image of Alexander's wedding photo from the original timeline flashed vividly in my mind. The beautiful woman standing beside him, her bright smile radiating joy, was the same woman standing before me now—Fiona. Fiona was talking, laughing, her voice warm and polite, just as it had
Ella POV I sat at the kitchen island beside Alexander, absentmindedly poking at the food he’d placed before me. It smelled and looked delicious, but my appetite was nowhere to be found—a ridiculous reaction, really. Alexander allowed me to stew in silence for a while before finally breaking the te
“A quiet day in is just what I need,” I said, finally taking a bite of the food. It was delicious, as expected. Alexander was a surprisingly good cook. I needed to mentally prepare for the council meeting. David would likely be there, along with his father. After my conversation with Alpha Derrick
The next morning, Alexander behaved as if nothing had happened. By the time I exited the bedroom, he was already up and dressed, standing by the counter as the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. His phone was in his hand, and he seemed intently focused on whatever was on the screen.
“After careful consideration and discussions with my family,” he began, his tone calm but firm, “I have decided that it’s time for me to retire.” Gasps rippled through the room. Some Alphas and Lunas exchanged stunned glances, while others simply froze. Under the table, Alexander reached for my han
"Make a move against him." The words made my heart stutter, leaving me nearly breathless. My chest tightened, and for a moment, the room seemed to spin. Alexander’s hand was on my shoulder suddenly, grounding me. His steady voice broke through the fog as he thanked the king. I opened my mouth, tr
Ella POV The rest of the day was consumed by phone calls and texting, especially with Elizabeth. She had known, of course, that her father planned to announce his retirement, but she hadn’t been able to say anything beforehand. Now, she was eager to talk about it with someone. Her father had been
“And you’re prepared for what that’s going to entail?” she asked, her concern evident in her voice. “Yes,” I said firmly. “I know it won’t be easy, but we’ve discussed this before our marriage. I knew what I was signing up for.” “Well, I’m glad to hear that,” Elizabeth said warmly. “Just know that
“I can’t,” he said weakly, his voice choked by tears.“Why?” I asked, frustrated.He looked away from me and I realized that I already knew the answer to that question. “Alexander is keeping something from me,” I said softly.He nodded, but couldn’t seem to meet my eyes.I could only imagine how har
Ella POVAugust paced across the living room, his brows drawn together in frustration. The tension in the room was thick.He and Alexander had a huge fight just a short while ago. I wasn’t in the room when it happened, but I could hear them shouting. I couldn’t make out any of the words, but it was
“I–” Sabrina looked at Lexie and sighed softly. “I’m very grateful. We’d be happy to stay with you until we’re able to find a safe place of our own.”My father smiled brightly. “Wonderful. We’ll be very happy to have you.”Overwhelmed with gratitude, I reached for his hand. “Dad…thank you. I didn’t
Ella POVThe warm glow of the restaurant’s chandeliers cast a golden hue over the elegantly set tables.I sat beside Alexander, my fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of my wine glass as I watched Lexie beam with pure delight. The little girl twirled in her chair, the soft pink dress Alexander h
Alexander’s gaze softened as he considered the offer. “That… might actually be the best solution.” He reached across the table, taking my hand in his. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you’re thinking about her like this.”I squeezed his hand. “She’s important to you. That makes her imp
Ella POVThe bustling noise of the shopping center’s food court was drown out by the sound of Lexie’s excited voice. Her tray of food was mostly ignored in favor of conversation.Her bright blue eyes were filled with excitement as she rattled off every thought that came to her mind.“And then the pr
Alexander blinked in surprise, obviously caught off guard. "Alright,” he said. “Let’s play."I watched as Alexander followed Lexie into the play area, my chest tightening with emotion. I could see it so clearly—the bond forming between them, the way Alexander was already looking at Lexie like she wa
Ella POVAlexander sat on the couch, staring blankly at the darkened television screen. The soft glow of the city lights filtered in through the windows, but his mind was elsewhere.His fingers tapped absently against his knee, his body tense with restless energy. He didn’t even seem to notice that
Third Person POVArcher Gray tried to keep his breathing steady as he stood before Ironfang. The dimly lit chamber was suffocating, the air thick with the scent of damp stone and something more metallic—blood, perhaps.His palms were damp, but he refused to let his nerves show. He had dealt with dan