Emily's POV The truth of his words sat heavily between us. I didn't confirm or deny it.“You read me too well,” I said.“Only because I’ve spent every waking second trying to.”His words should’ve unnerved me. Instead, they warmed something inside me that I hadn’t allowed to feel in a long time.That night, I couldn’t sleep.Not because of nightmares. But because I was starting to crave the quiet presence of a man I once saw as a threat.Over the next few days, he made it worse—in the best way.He brought me coffee in the morning. Not just any coffee. The kind I liked—black, strong, with a hint of cinnamon. He never asked how I took it. He just knew.One night, during a strategy session, I was so tired I nearly fell asleep mid-sentence. Fayne didn’t say a word. He took the papers from my hands, led me to the chair by the fire, and wrapped a blanket around my shoulders. His hand brushed my cheek so briefly it might’ve been a ghost of a touch—but I felt it for hours after.I started fi
Emily's POV The days grew quieter, the once-unruly tension that plagued the halls of Galahad now reduced to a soft hum beneath the daily rhythm of leadership. For the first time in weeks, I felt as though I could breathe. There were no intrusions, no visitors at the gate demanding answers about Jacob, no crises to solve before breakfast. The air smelled of pine and freedom.Fayne’s recovery had been slow but steady. I made sure he was well-fed, had the best healers watching over him, and—more often than I’d like to admit—I found myself checking in on him personally. I told myself it was part of my duty. But the truth was simpler.I missed him.I missed the way his eyes softened whenever I walked into the room. I missed the quiet loyalty in his words, the strength in his silence. I even missed the foolish little smirks he gave me when I tried to maintain my mask of indifference.We never talked about what had happened—the kiss, the fevered declaration that I was his wife, the night I’
Emily's POV I watched Link walk away, shoulders tight with unsaid words and silent wounds. The door clicked shut behind him, and the silence he left behind weighed heavy on my chest.He’d always been loyal—my right hand, my shadow. He never asked for more than orders. Never demanded space in my heart. But tonight, he had. And I didn’t know how to answer him.Because I wasn’t the same woman I used to be.And part of that… was because of Fayne.Fayne, who’d woken something I’d buried deep. Not just desire, but the terrifying ache of being wanted—not as Alpha, not as a weapon or symbol—but as *me*. I found myself walking to his room again, steps slow, unsure. It was past midnight, the pack settled in sleep. I told myself I was just checking on his recovery. That I was still Alpha, and this was just duty.But my heart was louder than logic.When I pushed the door open, Fayne was awake, sitting at the edge of the bed. His torso still bandaged, eyes dimmed with exhaustion, but he looked u
Emily's POV The silence in the room wasn’t peaceful. It was the kind that pressed against my ribs like a weight.I sat at my desk, the flames from the candles flickering softly across my scattered notes. I’d been reviewing reports all evening—territory defenses, supply counts, schedules for the warriors. The usual duties of an Alpha. And yet, none of it held my focus.Fayne.That man had slowly become more than just a complication. He was an ache I had grown used to. And worse, I was beginning to crave the ache.Link had noticed. Of course he had.He hadn’t always been in my circle. In fact, Link only truly became my right hand after I became Alpha. I chose him. I needed someone sharp, dependable, loyal. Someone who didn’t know the old me too well—someone who could adapt to the version of Emily I was creating: cold, strategic, unflinching.And Link fit that perfectly. Until recently.Now, there was something in his eyes when he looked at me—some emotion I never invited but couldn’t f
Emily's POV After my talk with Link, I lingered in my chambers longer than usual. My hands rested on the stone windowsill, eyes locked on the horizon, even though I couldn’t see a damn thing. My mind was elsewhere—down the hall, behind a door where a man I never expected to trust had begun to unravel all my fears and guards.I knew what I wanted. It wasn’t power or strategy or legacy—not in this moment. It was him.I left without calling for anyone. My guards knew better than to question me now, and I walked straight to Fayne’s quarters, my heart thudding with every step. He’d been healing well since that fever, stronger every day. But this—this would be the start of something new. A commitment not born out of war or alliance, but something far more terrifying: choice.I knocked once, then opened the door.Fayne was sitting near the fire, half-dressed, reading through a scroll. His expression lifted the moment he saw me.“Emily?” he said, surprised but warm.I stepped in and closed t
Emily's POV The day had come. The day I never thought would happen, not in this way. I stood in front of a simple altar, the sun’s soft light filtering through the trees around us. The soft whispers of the wind were the only sounds that filled the air, creating an almost surreal sense of calm. For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn’t entirely burdened by the weight of leadership. I wasn’t worried about what the pack would think or how they’d react. I was simply here, in this moment, with Fayne.I had never expected this to happen so soon, but when I looked at him, standing by my side, I knew it was the right thing. The bond we had forged over time had only grown stronger. The trust, the respect, the love—though it had been a slow burn, it had become something unshakable.Fayne’s hand was warm in mine, steady and unwavering. He looked at me with such intensity, his expression soft but filled with purpose. I could see it in his eyes—he was here with me, for me. And that g
Emily's POV As the fire crackled in the background, we stood together, watching the festivities unfold. The night was warm, and the scent of the forest surrounded us, creating a peaceful atmosphere. I felt a weight lifted from my shoulders, a sense of peace that I hadn’t realized I’d been longing for."Tonight is perfect," I murmured to Fayne, my voice soft.He smiled, his eyes glinting with affection. "It is. But it’s only the beginning."I glanced at him, wondering what he meant. He always had a way of making the future feel like something we could tackle together. "What do you mean?""I mean," he said, leaning in slightly, "that now that we’ve committed to each other, we can do more. Together. As Alpha and mate. We’ll build something strong here, Emily. And I’ll be by your side through it all."His words were comforting, but they also stirred something in me. A part of me had always feared the future—feared what would happen if I failed. But with him by my side, it didn’t seem as
Emily's POV Just as Melissa and I stood together, the weight of my possible pregnancy still hanging in the air between us, a sudden shout echoed through the courtyard.“Alpha Emily!”I turned toward the voice, watching as one of our younger scouts sprinted up the path, breathless and flushed from the run. He held something in his hand—a sealed letter marked with a familiar wax insignia. My heart clenched the moment I saw it.The Donovan crest.My family’s sigil.I stepped forward, took the letter from his trembling hands, and nodded my thanks. He bowed and quickly turned to leave, clearly uneasy being near such heavy tension. Melissa’s eyes widened as I turned the envelope over in my hand.“That’s from them, isn’t it?” she asked softly. “From your brother?”I didn’t respond. My hands already moved on their own, tearing open the seal, unfolding the thick parchment.I read.And as I read, the knot in my stomach grew tighter.Dear Sister,I suppose congratulations are in order—Alpha of
Emily's POV The table was simple tonight — fresh bread, grilled meat, and platters of fruits and cheeses. No servants, no formalities. Just us.Fayne poured drinks while I set out the plates, and before long, laughter began to fill the air — the natural, effortless kind that only comes from people who know each other too well. "You’re heavy-handed with the wine, old man," Kael teased, raising his cup at Fayne.Fayne gave him a mock glare. "I’m making up for all the times I had to deal with your troublemaking.""Ah," Aerlyn smirked over the rim of her glass, "he means the time you tried to tame a wyvern in your second year of training."Kael groaned. "I will *never* live that down.""You were brave," I said, unable to hide a chuckle, "but extremely foolish.""And slightly singed," Fayne added, lifting his cup toward Kael with a wink. "To Kael, the bravest fool we know."We all laughed and raised our glasses together, the clinking sound ringing through the open air.The conversation
Emily's POV The days that followed were spun from sunlight and laughter.After breakfast one morning, Fayne clapped his hands together and grinned wickedly. “Time for a family sparring match,” he announced, eyes gleaming. “No backing out!”Aerlyn immediately brightened, already stretching her arms behind her head. “I’m in.”Kael gave a loud, theatrical groan. “Do I have to? I almost died last time!”“You stubbed your toe last time,” I said dryly, sipping my tea. “Hardly a near-death experience.”Still, when we gathered outside in the practice yard, Kael bounced on his toes with nervous excitement. The sun was high, the breeze carried the scent of wildflowers, and the whole pack seemed to watch from the edges, smiling at the scene unfolding.We split into teams — Fayne and Kael against Aerlyn and me."Unfair," Kael complained immediately. "Mother and Aerlyn are terrifying!""You wound me," I said with a grin, circling him slowly. "But I’ll take it as a compliment."The match began w
Emily's POV The days that followed felt golden.The castle, often a place of endless decisions and strategy, settled into a rhythm that was almost domestic. It wasn’t that there weren’t matters to attend to — of course there were. Packs still needed watching, alliances still needed tending. But the urgency that had once ruled every breath was gone, replaced by something warmer, deeper.Trust.Aerlyn spent her mornings training patrol groups, her voice sharp and sure as she called out orders in the training fields. She was growing into her power in a way that made my heart ache with pride. Some mornings I would watch her from the balcony, sipping tea while the wind carried her laughter up to me.Kael had thrown himself into studying — a surprise to all of us. He was determined to master governance, battle strategies, herbal remedies, everything he could get his hands on. It was as if, after the talk about leadership, he had decided to prove he was ready for more.Sometimes, I would fi
Emily's POV “We’re not as young as we used to be,” I murmured, feeling the ache in my bones with a smirk.“But we’re better,” he said. “We know when to stop fighting the world.”I turned toward him, resting my head on his shoulder. “This is what we fought for.”He didn’t answer with words, just pressed a kiss to my forehead.Eventually, reluctantly, we returned home.As we rode into the castle gates, our cloaks damp and hair wild, the guards blinked at us like we were forest spirits returning from myth. We waved them off before they could ask questions, and made our way back to our private quarters, still grinning like fools.We’d barely stepped out of the bathing chamber when there was a knock at the door. This time, it wasn’t a guard. I knew the rhythm.“Come in,” I called, already smiling.Aerlyn entered first, her braids freshly redone, her uniform pristine. Behind her, Kael followed, taller than before, but still hiding part of his face behind his curls when he felt uncertain.“
Emily's POV “Was hoping you'd think I was unconscious,” he mumbled into my hair. “So you wouldn’t make me move.” I laughed softly and turned toward him, our legs tangling naturally. He looked younger in the morning light, softer. As if the weight of his past had stepped back, if only for a few hours. I brushed my fingers across his brow, smoothing back a strand of hair that had fallen in his eyes. “I don’t want to move either,” I whispered. “Then don’t,” he said, pulling me closer. “We’ve earned one morning.” It was a strange thing—stillness. Foreign, almost. Our love had bloomed in war, grown through hardship, deepened through leadership. Most days, it felt like we were always on the edge of something: a threat, a decision, a moment too big to breathe through. But today… Today, we were just Emily and Fayne. Not Alpha. Not demon. Not legend. Just two people who had made it through the storm and still chose each other. He kissed the top of my head. “Still thinking about Kael?”
Emily's POV The echo of my children’s voices still lingered in the corridor even after I walked away. Something had changed—subtly, but powerfully. Kael and Aerlyn had finally found a rhythm, however fragile. That mattered more than any council, any throne. I drifted into the quiet of our chambers, the familiar warmth of it greeting me like a gentle tide. Fayne stood near the window, bathed in moonlight, his arms crossed as he stared into the distance like he always did when his mind wandered too far. He turned when he heard me, and his crooked smile instantly softened everything in me. “They’ll be alright,” I said, sinking into the edge of the couch. He raised a brow. “Kael didn’t burn down anything?” “Not today,” I teased. Fayne chuckled and walked over. “Then we’ll call that a win.” There was silence for a beat, one that didn’t demand to be filled. We were getting good at this kind of peace—the quiet between the wild. The world outside always turned, but we had carved out
Emily's POV I nodded. “Exactly. A joint council. One that unites the packs and keeps decisions balanced. Aerlyn will lead the Galahad and Red Cross packs, yes. Kael will govern Donovan when the time comes. But their power won't lie in their territories. It’ll lie in their ability to come together for decisions that affect all of us.”“Smart,” Fayne admitted, brushing a hand across my shoulder. “Give them shared stakes so there’s less room for rivalry.”“And more room for respect,” I added. “We’ll train them to make decisions together. Mediate conflicts. See each other as equals, even when their paths differ. We’ll show Kael that his role isn’t smaller, just different. He’ll grow into a protector, a strategist, a voice for the more volatile edges of the packs.”Fayne gave a small smile. “That sounds like you’ve been planning this for years.”“I have.” I turned toward him fully, letting the weight of my thoughts settle. “Because I know what it’s like to be raised in a world that pits s
Emily's POV The sun had dipped low, brushing golden light across the glass windows as I stood at the edge of the balcony, overlooking Galahad’s inner gardens. The breeze was gentle, tugging at the silk of my robe, and in the distance, I could hear laughter—Aerlyn training the younger wolves again, just as she always did.Behind me, I heard Fayne’s footsteps, quiet but heavy with thought. He came to stand beside me, his arms folded, gaze cast out toward the horizon. For a moment, we stood in silence, listening to the world we had carved out together. The peace we had fought for. Bled for.I sighed. “We have a family.”Fayne looked at me, his expression softening.“There were nights,” I continued, voice low, “when I didn’t think that would ever be our truth. That we’d ever survive long enough to see it. But now we have two children. A daughter who's strong enough to lead, and a son with a heart that's still learning to shape itself.”His hand slid gently over mine, warm and grounding.
Aerlyn’s POV I sat at the edge of the long stone table, the parchment map spread before us rippling with age and memory. Every scar on its surface marked a past battle, a lesson etched in ink and blood. Now it was my turn to leave a mark.Alpha Dante from the southern border was mid-sentence, proposing a joint patrol with his fastest wolves. Normally, I would’ve deferred to my mother—but today, I leaned forward.“That route won’t hold,” I said, surprising even myself with how calm my voice was. “The rogue movements I tracked followed wind pockets and low paths. They’re avoiding open terrain. We’d be leaving our flank exposed.”The room went still. A few of the elders exchanged glances. One even scoffed under his breath. But my mother said nothing. She didn’t have to. Her silence was her faith in me.Dante grunted, pointing at a different section of the map. “Then you suggest we close in here?”I nodded. “And reroute the scouts to this ridge. It’s narrow but provides full visibility.