Cecilia POVI should have felt relieved that I had avenged my family. Instead, it gnawed at me with an overwhelming feeling of emptiness. It was as though I had destroyed a part of myself inside with Layla.When I got back to my room, the moon had risen. Unfortunately, sleep alluded me. Every time I closed my eyes, Layla's last moments replayed in my mind like a twisted jingle. I could still hear the sound of her head rolling on the ground.The night was unbearably quiet, and the weight of that silence pressed down on me, making it impossible to forge. A soft knock came at the door. Before I could respond, Julian walked in."You don't have to go through this alone," he said softly and approached me. Then, he sat next to me and took my hand. His warmth should have comforted me, but it didn't. Not tonight. The burden of what I had done was too heavy."I'm here," he added, his eyes searching mine. "Do you want to talk?Carefully, I pulled my hand free and shook my head. "I… I ne
Cecilia POVAs the sun began to sink below the horizon, casting long shadows over the desert, Julian gathered some dry branches by the water's edge and quietly started a small fire. His movements were calm and practiced. It was like he had done this countless times before."You've got to try this," he said, pulling a small jar and some dried lemons from his bag. The air was filled with the citrusy scent of lemons as he brewed tea over the fire. I sat nearby and watched him work as the flames flickered across his face."Keep an eye on the fire. I'll be back soon," he instructed. Then, he walked toward a group of trees a short distance away. I could hear the rustling of leaves as he climbed up.When he returned, he handed me a handful of fresh dates. "In the desert, dates and lemon tea go hand in hand.""It's very sweet." I bit into one. Then, I reached over and popped one into his mouth as well. "I thought someone like you, a prince, wouldn't be used to doing all this. I figured
Julian POVI inhaled deeply before putting my hand in hers. "Something as timeless as the desert itself is what I wish to offer you. A bit of myself and a piece of this desert."I reached behind me and picked up a tiny wooden box, which I opened slowly to show a necklace. An old desert shell fossil was used to create the pendant. Despite the deterioration of time, its lines and textures remained vibrant. As such, it was etched with the history of the land beneath our feet. Eight little red gemstones, the same color as Cecilia's hair, adorned the fossil.Her eyes fixed on the necklace as she held her breath in wonderment. Her hand shook a little as she extended it to touch it. "It's beautiful," she said softly in a whisper. "Where did you... How...""I found this shell fossil in the desert when I was scouting in Ashfall. I had a craftsman make the necklace for me then. I've been waiting for the right moment to give it to you."I gently took the necklace from the box and carefully
Cecilia POVI could feel the sand shifting beneath the thin sleeping mat in the tent. It was as if I was being pulled into a vast whirlpool, and Julian was sinking with me. We lay close, our bodies pressed together as the lantern's soft light shone on our skin. Our shadows merged on the tent's canvas, moving in sync until they became one.I could feel his heartbeat against my chest, steady and strong, grounding me in this surreal moment, where everything felt heightened and impossibly vivid.The desert outside was silent. However, every sound seemed amplified within the tent, such as the rustle of fabric when he moved or the heavy breaths he took as he entered me. His fingers traced my skin. They moved slowly and deliberately, acting as if they were memorizing every curve and detail of my body. There was no rushing. Instead, there was just a sense of time stretching out, as if the desert night had granted us an eternity.The world outside felt unreachable. It was just him and m
Cecilia POVOur kiss was interrupted when the phone rang. Julian reluctantly withdrew from me, a trace of hesitation still visible in his eyes. He gave the screen a quick glance, but he didn't hide from me. Rather, he took the call just in front of me.I caught bits and pieces of the conversation. It was Hogan, instructing Julian to finish the matters in Ashfall and return as soon as possible to deliver his report. I knew then that it was time for us to part ways again. He would return to the palace in Black Stone, and I would leave for the Lotus Pack. My chest constricted at the thought as a feeling of melancholy washed over me. He looked at me as though he could read my mind and stated, "You're coming back to Black Stone with me. I'll tell Hogan about us. I'll get his approval.""There's no rush," I replied calmly, even though I was practically humming a happy tune in my mind. "You can continue to teach me how to fly this helicopter, and I'll be the one flying you back."As t
Cecilia POVAfter Julian and I returned to the base camp, he gave me the email addresses of every Alpha in Valdora. Once I was back in my room, I set up a simple donation page where I uploaded the pictures I had taken earlier in Ashfall. I immediately wrote the following letter to all of the Alphas: "To all of our friends, Ashfall is in severe need of us right now. Whether they are humans or werewolves, the people here are completely devoid of anything. Their lives and homes have been damaged by this war, but we can help them rebuild if we band together."I'm asking you to donate as your tribes' leaders. Not just for us, but for everyone who lives on this land. I beg you to join me. The time has come to demonstrate to the world that we are more than just fighters. We are protectors as well as builders."I pressed send, exhaled slowly, and gazed out the window. It was already night. I didn't plan to return to the Lotus pack until hope re-emerged in these streets, until people
Cecilia POVI stared at him, a hint of disbelief flashing in my eyes. "You mean to say you can't help at all? If it weren't for Freeda, your dear wife, these people wouldn't even be refugees in the first place! Don't you think you owe them some compensation?"Freeda interrupted sharply, "This isn't about refugees. This is about you playing the hero and trying to make yourself look good. Just because you have money and influence now doesn't mean others can throw money around recklessly."I blinked, taken aback by the malice in her tone. "This isn't about showing off. It's about saving lives, about helping people who have lost everything in the war. This isn't some competition."She stood, crossing her arms, her eyes narrowing as she faced me. "Oh, isn't it? You're here, putting on this grand fundraiser, expecting everyone to line up and donate. It's nothing more than emotional blackmail."My heart pounded, and a surge of anger rose within me. "It's not blackmail. No one is being fo
Julian POVIn just three short days, Cecilia managed to gather a total of 300 million, and the amount kept growing."She's really helped us out once again. If she hadn't organized the fundraiser, we'd be facing some serious financial difficulties." Hogan's voice sounded cheerful over the phone."Yes, she's an impressive Alpha. Brave, intelligent, and responsible—""Enough about that. When are you coming back to Black Stone? Your mother misses you dearly." Hogan cut me off before I could finish listing Cecilia's strengths."I need to stay here to coordinate the rebuilding efforts in Ashfall. I can't leave just yet.""I'll send the experts myself if that's all it takes. There's no reason for you to—" Hogan's tone turned stern. "I know you're staying for her. She's doing well, but don't think that means she'll become the Luna of Valdora. I'm giving you one month to wrap things up and return!""All right."After ending the call, I let out a breath of relief. It wouldn't be easy to