“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
Ella POV I woke the next morning to find I was still alone in the apartment. Fear gripped my heart as I rushed out of the bedroom, hoping to find Alexander on the couch. But it was empty too. A note lay on the coffee table, one that hadn’t been there the night before. I picked it up, my hands tre
A small, irrational part of me wanted to turn around and walk out, but that would be ridiculous. Instead, I stepped up to the counter and focused on placing my order: the usual drinks for James and me. I’d hoped Fiona wouldn’t notice me. No such luck. “Ella!” she called out, her voice bright with
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