A summons for tea with Queen Rhoda.I stare at the delicate note in my hands, reading the words over and over, half expecting them to change into something more reasonable. The last time I spoke to the Queen, she had revealed the prophecy and Aries’ history to me. It wasn’t a warm conversation—it was laced with tension, duty, and thinly veiled disapproval. And now, she wants to have tea?"Ignore it." Aries’ voice slithers through my mind, dark and irritated. "Burn the note. Tear it to pieces. Better yet, let me shift so we can go find something more entertaining, like a fight."I sigh, rubbing my temples. "It would be rude to ignore an invitation from the Queen.""So? Let her be offended." His growl reverberates in my skull. "It’s not like she ever wanted you here in the first place."He isn’t wrong."Still," I smooth out the note and stand, ready to leave my chambers."Oh no, absolutely not," Aries snaps. Suddenly, my legs feel like lead, my arms going slack at my sides. A strang
The walk to Cassidy's childhood house is longer than I remember. Or maybe it just feels that way with Aries still simmering in my head, his irritation palpable."That woman," he grumbles, referring to Queen Rhoda. "Thinks she can dictate everything, control everyone. She gave up on her own son and now wants to control me? She’s delusional."I sigh, rubbing my temples as I approach the nicely large stone house on the path to the main gate of the estate "Just let me handle this, Aries.""You always say that, but I’m still waiting for the day you actually put someone in their place for good.""Noted," I mutter under my breath.The door swings open before I can knock. Alma stands there, her light blonde hair pulled back, warm green eyes scanning my face. “Come in, dear.”The scent of herbal tea and lavender fills the air as I step inside. This home always feels like a safe haven, away from the chaos of the estate. She gestures toward the mahogany table near the fireplace.“Tea?” she asks
I close the door behind me, leaning against it as I exhale. The air in my room is still, heavy with thoughts I don’t want to have.Aries has been quiet since I left Alma’s, but the weight of his presence lingers like an unsaid word. I step toward the bed, kicking off my boots, my mind circling around the conversation with the Queen.Why does it bother me?Cain is the reason I almost died in Moonhaven. The reason I spent nights covered in wounds that refused to heal. The reason I was in a coma for I dunno how long. He's also the reason I'm currently mated to his younger brother, and part the reason why all these insane rumours about me were even created in the first place.He is the one waging war against his own family, not caring if their blood stains the battlefield. So why does the Queen’s acceptance of his death feel… wrong?"Because you think a mother should never abandon her child."Aries’ voice slithers back into my mind, a smug lilt in his tone."Admit it, little wolf. It
Stepping back into Caspian’s room feels like slipping into a warm embrace. The familiar scent of roses and something uniquely him wraps around me, settling deep into my bones. This space has been mine before. Ours. And now, I’m back.I take a slow breath, letting the reality of it settle. The tension I didn’t even realize I was holding melts away as the heavy wooden door clicks shut behind me."Well, well," Aries drawls in my head, his voice laced with amusement. "Look who came crawling back.""Shut up.""No, no. Let’s savor this moment. Didn’t you say you’d stand your ground? That you’d make him work for it?""I am making him work for it," I argue."Sure. That’s why you’re standing in his room, looking like a lost pup that finally found its way home."I ignore him, my gaze sweeping across the space. Nothing has changed. The dark wooden furniture, the thick brown and cream curtains, the bed that suddenly feels much larger than I remember. The memory of the nights spent wrapped in C
Caspian hasn’t stopped watching me all evening. It’s not the intense, possessive gaze I’m used to—no, this is different. Softer. Careful. As if he’s afraid I’ll slip through his fingers if he so much as breathes wrong.I just moved back into his room after everything that happened, after all the space I forced between us. He’s afraid to push too hard, afraid I’ll pull away again.But I won’t.Not anymore.He brushes his thumb over the back of my hand, the warmth of his skin sending a shiver up my arm. “You’re really here.”I smile faintly. “I am.”He exhales slowly, as if my answer alone eases something heavy in his chest.His fingers tighten around mine. “I thought I’d lost you.”I shake my head. “You didn’t.”A humorless chuckle escapes him. “You say that like I didn’t deserve to.”I squeeze his hand, my voice softer now. “Caspian…”He tilts his head, grey eyes searching mine. “You moved back into my room. You’re here, with me. But I need to know if you’re really here.”"I know you
I wake up to the warmth of Caspian’s body wrapped around mine, his steady breathing brushing against my bare shoulder. The faint morning light filters through the heavy curtains, casting a golden glow across the room. My body feels sore, but in the best way possible. I remember everything—his hands, his lips, the way he made me feel like I was the only thing that mattered in the world.I shift slightly, still pressed against his chest, and let out a soft sigh. We’re fully mated now. The bond between us hums in the depths of my soul, stronger than ever. There’s no more uncertainty, no more distance. He’s mine. I’m his.But I feel Aries on the surface, lingering in the back of my mind, his presence heavy and quiet. Not his usual sarcastic self."Aries?" I reach out to him.For a moment, he doesn’t respond. Then, in a voice I don’t recognize—solemn, almost lost—he says, "Honestly? I don’t know how to feel."That startles me. "What do you mean?""We’re mated. Fully connected. To Caspia
The study is dimly lit, the flickering candlelight casting long shadows along the stone walls. The scent of old parchment and polished wood lingers in the air, mixing with the faintest trace of something floral—probably the Queen’s preferred incense.I step inside, careful to keep my expression neutral. The King and Queen are seated behind the grand oak desk, their faces unreadable. But I can see the difference.King Damon looks tired.Not wary, not stern—just tired. His ink black hair now streaked with the silver of stress, is slightly disheveled, the usual sharpness in his eyes dulled by something I can’t quite place.Queen Rhoda, on the other hand, is as composed as ever. Regal, elegant, and completely in control. She’s the one who speaks first.“Delilah.” Her voice is smooth, her tone betraying nothing. “We have given further thought to your mating bond with our son.”I don’t move, don’t react. Instead, I wait.A beat of silence. Then—“We have decided to recognize it.”The wor
"He can't mate with this. Not my only pup!" Olivia, the mother of my mate, Darius, sneers, her brown eyes flickering with disgust as she yanks his arm from my grasp.We're in the clearing not so far from the pack house where mating ceremonies are held, with the moon hanging over us like a dull bulb, casting long shadows over her face and making her look more menacing than she usually is."Heck, she can't mate anybody," someone else says from somewhere behind me.Darius begins moving away from me, and I instinctively reach out to try to stop him, but he's too far from my grasp.Around us, the pack stands in the clearing, their eyes glinting with satisfaction in the harsh silver light of the full moon."Darius..." I whisper, reaching out to him still, but his face hardens."You’re nothing but the pack’s shame," he says, his voice cold and cutting. "The daughter of a woman who threw away her destiny for a human.""Do you have to remind me? She loved him and that's all that–""Look where
The study is dimly lit, the flickering candlelight casting long shadows along the stone walls. The scent of old parchment and polished wood lingers in the air, mixing with the faintest trace of something floral—probably the Queen’s preferred incense.I step inside, careful to keep my expression neutral. The King and Queen are seated behind the grand oak desk, their faces unreadable. But I can see the difference.King Damon looks tired.Not wary, not stern—just tired. His ink black hair now streaked with the silver of stress, is slightly disheveled, the usual sharpness in his eyes dulled by something I can’t quite place.Queen Rhoda, on the other hand, is as composed as ever. Regal, elegant, and completely in control. She’s the one who speaks first.“Delilah.” Her voice is smooth, her tone betraying nothing. “We have given further thought to your mating bond with our son.”I don’t move, don’t react. Instead, I wait.A beat of silence. Then—“We have decided to recognize it.”The wor
I wake up to the warmth of Caspian’s body wrapped around mine, his steady breathing brushing against my bare shoulder. The faint morning light filters through the heavy curtains, casting a golden glow across the room. My body feels sore, but in the best way possible. I remember everything—his hands, his lips, the way he made me feel like I was the only thing that mattered in the world.I shift slightly, still pressed against his chest, and let out a soft sigh. We’re fully mated now. The bond between us hums in the depths of my soul, stronger than ever. There’s no more uncertainty, no more distance. He’s mine. I’m his.But I feel Aries on the surface, lingering in the back of my mind, his presence heavy and quiet. Not his usual sarcastic self."Aries?" I reach out to him.For a moment, he doesn’t respond. Then, in a voice I don’t recognize—solemn, almost lost—he says, "Honestly? I don’t know how to feel."That startles me. "What do you mean?""We’re mated. Fully connected. To Caspia
Caspian hasn’t stopped watching me all evening. It’s not the intense, possessive gaze I’m used to—no, this is different. Softer. Careful. As if he’s afraid I’ll slip through his fingers if he so much as breathes wrong.I just moved back into his room after everything that happened, after all the space I forced between us. He’s afraid to push too hard, afraid I’ll pull away again.But I won’t.Not anymore.He brushes his thumb over the back of my hand, the warmth of his skin sending a shiver up my arm. “You’re really here.”I smile faintly. “I am.”He exhales slowly, as if my answer alone eases something heavy in his chest.His fingers tighten around mine. “I thought I’d lost you.”I shake my head. “You didn’t.”A humorless chuckle escapes him. “You say that like I didn’t deserve to.”I squeeze his hand, my voice softer now. “Caspian…”He tilts his head, grey eyes searching mine. “You moved back into my room. You’re here, with me. But I need to know if you’re really here.”"I know you
Stepping back into Caspian’s room feels like slipping into a warm embrace. The familiar scent of roses and something uniquely him wraps around me, settling deep into my bones. This space has been mine before. Ours. And now, I’m back.I take a slow breath, letting the reality of it settle. The tension I didn’t even realize I was holding melts away as the heavy wooden door clicks shut behind me."Well, well," Aries drawls in my head, his voice laced with amusement. "Look who came crawling back.""Shut up.""No, no. Let’s savor this moment. Didn’t you say you’d stand your ground? That you’d make him work for it?""I am making him work for it," I argue."Sure. That’s why you’re standing in his room, looking like a lost pup that finally found its way home."I ignore him, my gaze sweeping across the space. Nothing has changed. The dark wooden furniture, the thick brown and cream curtains, the bed that suddenly feels much larger than I remember. The memory of the nights spent wrapped in C
I close the door behind me, leaning against it as I exhale. The air in my room is still, heavy with thoughts I don’t want to have.Aries has been quiet since I left Alma’s, but the weight of his presence lingers like an unsaid word. I step toward the bed, kicking off my boots, my mind circling around the conversation with the Queen.Why does it bother me?Cain is the reason I almost died in Moonhaven. The reason I spent nights covered in wounds that refused to heal. The reason I was in a coma for I dunno how long. He's also the reason I'm currently mated to his younger brother, and part the reason why all these insane rumours about me were even created in the first place.He is the one waging war against his own family, not caring if their blood stains the battlefield. So why does the Queen’s acceptance of his death feel… wrong?"Because you think a mother should never abandon her child."Aries’ voice slithers back into my mind, a smug lilt in his tone."Admit it, little wolf. It
The walk to Cassidy's childhood house is longer than I remember. Or maybe it just feels that way with Aries still simmering in my head, his irritation palpable."That woman," he grumbles, referring to Queen Rhoda. "Thinks she can dictate everything, control everyone. She gave up on her own son and now wants to control me? She’s delusional."I sigh, rubbing my temples as I approach the nicely large stone house on the path to the main gate of the estate "Just let me handle this, Aries.""You always say that, but I’m still waiting for the day you actually put someone in their place for good.""Noted," I mutter under my breath.The door swings open before I can knock. Alma stands there, her light blonde hair pulled back, warm green eyes scanning my face. “Come in, dear.”The scent of herbal tea and lavender fills the air as I step inside. This home always feels like a safe haven, away from the chaos of the estate. She gestures toward the mahogany table near the fireplace.“Tea?” she asks
A summons for tea with Queen Rhoda.I stare at the delicate note in my hands, reading the words over and over, half expecting them to change into something more reasonable. The last time I spoke to the Queen, she had revealed the prophecy and Aries’ history to me. It wasn’t a warm conversation—it was laced with tension, duty, and thinly veiled disapproval. And now, she wants to have tea?"Ignore it." Aries’ voice slithers through my mind, dark and irritated. "Burn the note. Tear it to pieces. Better yet, let me shift so we can go find something more entertaining, like a fight."I sigh, rubbing my temples. "It would be rude to ignore an invitation from the Queen.""So? Let her be offended." His growl reverberates in my skull. "It’s not like she ever wanted you here in the first place."He isn’t wrong."Still," I smooth out the note and stand, ready to leave my chambers."Oh no, absolutely not," Aries snaps. Suddenly, my legs feel like lead, my arms going slack at my sides. A strang
“I’ll consider forgiving you,” I say, arms crossed as I lean against the edge of the bed. “But you have to make it worth my choice.”Caspian, seated tensely on the couch, lifts his head, gray eyes stormy with emotions I can’t quite place. “And what exactly does that mean?”“It means that right now, we put aside whatever issues we have and focus on something bigger.” I pause, letting the weight of my words sink in. “Something that might just get me killed.”His entire body goes rigid. “What?”I exhale, bracing myself for his reaction. “When I went on a raid with the enforcers—”“You went on a raid with the enforcers?” he interrupts, voice low and sharp, like a blade pressed against my skin.I tilt my head, lips curling into something that isn’t quite a smile. “When you left me alone to my own devices, what did you think I’d do? Sit in my room and play dress-up?”His jaw clenches, muscle ticking under his skin. His fingers grip the armrest of the couch, knuckles turning white.I continu
Silence.Thick, suffocating silence hangs between us.Caspian is watching me from his place on the couch, elbows resting on his knees, fingers loosely clasped together, looking like he’s waiting for me to explode after his quiet apology.Maybe he’s right to. The air in the room is charged, and I’m barely holding myself together.I sit on the edge of the bed, my arms folded tightly across my chest, trying to keep myself from shaking—not with fear, but with rage. I shouldn't be shaking at all, not when I'm the one who's angry, but every inch of my body is coiled so tightly that I feel like I might snap.He was the one who left me to drown in the mess he created and what does he have to say?Sorry?I think I need more than that, don't you think?"You don’t know, do you?" I finally break the silence, my voice quiet but edged with something sharp.His brows furrow. "Know what?"A bitter chuckle leaves me. "Of course, you don’t. Because while you were off being a prince, dealing with rogue