Heartfelt Conversation

The echo of Ms. Gentle’s lecture on royal etiquette still rang in my ears as I returned to my chambers, grateful for the silence. I shut the door behind me, slipping off my shoes and settling onto the edge of my bed. The day had been exhausting, a swirl of rules and expectations to remember, all leading up to the Alpha meeting in just under two weeks. But in this quiet moment, I allowed myself a sigh of relief, knowing I’d handled today without incident.

My eyes drifted around the room, half expecting Lucas to be there, but of course, he wasn’t. He’d been increasingly busy lately, the weight of his responsibilities pulling him away, and I was…well, thankful for it, in a way. Time apart gave me a chance to gather my thoughts, to remind myself of what I wanted from this arrangement. Though the brief encounters we did have kept replaying in my mind.

A buzz from my phone pulled me from my thoughts. I picked it up and blinked at the name on the screen, a smile tugging at my lips. Ivy. My b