Dahlia’s P.O.V
I froze where I stood, my breath catching painfully in my throat, because the sudden gasps that echoed from every direction around me made my blood run cold. I turned slowly, my heart thudding like a drum, and there they were—Cade and Amara, standing right behind me with triumphant smirks curling their lips like they had already won something I didn’t even understand yet. My whole body went rigid, fear and disbelief mingling so fiercely in my chest that I felt my knees might give out.
Before I could even process what was happening, Damien stepped forward in a flash, his broad frame instantly shielding me from their sight as though his body alone could erase the danger pressing down on us. His voice came out sharp, cutting, filled with all the authority I had heard countless times.
“Cade, you forget yourself. Slandering the Alpha King will cost you your life.”
Cade only th
Dahlia’s P.O.VI lay there in the dark, my head tucked against Killian’s chest, his arms wrapped firmly around me like he never intended to let go. His breathing was slow, steady, almost lulling, and I thought for sure I’d drift off after everything that had happened today. But my mind wouldn’t quiet down. My eyes stayed open, staring into the shadows of the room, listening to the faint hum of the night beyond the window. I shifted slightly, not enough to disturb him, or at least I thought so.“You’re not sleeping,” Killian murmured softly, his voice still thick with drowsiness.I froze for a moment before sighing. “I thought I would. I should be exhausted… but I’m not.”His chest rose and fell under my cheek. “What’s keeping you awake?”I hesitated, chewing at the inside of my lip, debating if I even wanted to say it out loud. But the words pressed too heavily on me to stay inside.“It’s Cade,” I whispered finally.Killian’s hold tightened instinctively. “Dahlia, don’t—”“I can’t sto
Dahlia’s P.O.VI held on to him tighter, letting my cheek rest against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart as if it could calm the storm inside me. But even though I found comfort in his arms, the unease didn’t fully leave me, and after a while, I tilted my head up to look at him.“Killian,” I said softly, my voice carrying a hint of hesitation, “what did your mother tell you after I left earlier? Did she… did she say that she wants me gone?”He blinked at me, his brows furrowing in confusion as if I had just said the most absurd thing.“What? Dahlia—why would you even think that?” His tone was incredulous, almost wounded that I could believe it.I gave a faint, uneasy smile, though my fingers tightened slightly on the fabric of his coat.“Because by now, Lady Agatha must know the nature of… of whatever this is between us. She
Dahlia’s P.O.VKorina’s lips parted like she wanted to argue, but she stayed silent for a moment, just watching me.I shook my head. “I don’t want to believe Cade. But what if…” My voice trailed, and I clenched my fists in frustration. “What if there’s something there? What if they never told me because they thought it would ruin me? Wouldn’t you want to know, Korina? Wouldn’t you?”She opened her mouth, then closed it again, tilting her head slightly before muttering, “Maybe. But I’d bury it once I knew. I wouldn’t let it own me the way it’s owning you right now.”I wanted to respond, but before I could even form another word, a sharp knock sounded at my door. My head jerked toward it, the sound cutting through my thoughts like a blade, making me forget everything I’d been about to say.Korina’s eyes flicked to the door, then back at me. “Well? Should we answer it?” she asked.I swallowed hard, pushing myself up from my seat. “Yeah,” I muttered, though my chest was tight. Whoever it
Dahlia’s P.O.VI stared at the ceiling of my room, my breathing even as I rested next to Korina, but my mind was racing in circles I couldn’t seem to break free from. The realization kept eating at me—the truth that all this time, when I had been married to Cade, he had not only had authority over me as his wife but also complete authority over my own pack and my people. Could it be that it was during this time that he had discovered something that I had never known?It made no sense, and yet, the way he carried himself, the confidence in his words and actions, it made me question everything. There had to be more to this than just empty threats. Otherwise…Cade wouldn’t suddenly make me question my entire existence without solid proof…“Could it be that Cade somehow already knew… that he heard whispers or some truth that I didn’t? Is that why he’s this sure of himself?” I muttered under my breath.Korina shifted closer to me, her voice cutting through my thoughts. “Dahlia… you’ve been
Dahlia’s P.O.VAs I rushed out of the room, my chest still burning from the storm of emotions and my heart pounding so loud it drowned out every other sound. For a moment I was so blinded that I almost collided head-on with Korina. I barely had time to steady myself before her arms were around me so tightly that for a second I forgot how to breathe. “I’m so sorry, Dahlia, I’m so sorry for her.” Her voice cracked with desperation as she whispered into my shoulder. “She shouldn’t have said those things to you, she had no right.”I blinked at her in confusion, but then it clicked—she had been right outside the door, listening to every word. Normally, that would have upset me, but right then I didn’t care. All I wanted was space to breathe, to get away from the venom of that room.“I’m okay,” I muttered, my throat scratchy and my voice barely holding together. “I just… I just need to rest, Korina. That’s all I want right now.”But Korina pulled back just enough to look at me, her eyes sc
Killian’s P.O.VI pulled my hands away slowly, dragging in a breath, the frustration gnawing at me. “Why does it always come back to that with you? Why can’t it just be simple? Why can’t it just be about me caring for her—about me choosing her?”She looked at me with an almost sad smile, shaking her head. “Because nothing in this family is ever simple, Killian. You know that better than anyone. I’m not saying you can’t care for her, I’m not saying you shouldn’t choose her. But when something like this… when something this strange ties you to someone, you have to be cautious. You have to ask yourself why.”“And what if I don’t want to ask?” I shot back, my voice rising without my conscious thought. “What if I don’t care why? What if I just… want to live for once without dissecting every single damn thing?”Her eyes softened, and she sighed again. “Then I’ll try to support you, as best as I can. I told you—I’ll try. But don’t hate me for worrying. Don’t hate me for being afraid.”I look