Lyla

Lyla POV:

Sitting alone in the tranquil courtyard, my fingers traced the contours of the leaves, feeling their coolness against my skin. The gentle rustling of the trees in the breeze was soothing, but it did little to calm the storm raging within me. Despite the days that had passed since my return to the palace, a sense of disconnection clung to me, refusing to let go.

My time here had been filled with warmth and acceptance. Cameron and Samuel's parents had welcomed me with open arms, enveloping me in a love that was both comforting and genuine. Alana and I had caught up on everything, sharing laughter and tears in equal measure. Even my brothers had been a constant presence, their familiar banter bringing a semblance of normalcy.

But beneath the surface of these comforting interactions, there was an underlying ache, an absence where the bond with Cameron and Samuel should have been. I felt their love, their concern, yet the deeper connection that defined mates was conspicuously abs