Ayla stood frozen as the King looked at her, his face calm but his eyes filled with something deeper, anger, confusion, protectiveness. His voice was quiet when he asked, "How did you know him? How did you meet him?" His soft tone didn’t match the fire in his eyes. Ayla's heart raced. She could feel the pressure building in her chest. He was only calm for her sake, she could tell. She swallowed hard, her voice shaking as she replied, "I was at the beach yesterday, right after we arrived. He walked up to me. We talked. He introduced himself as Garrett. He looked very sick, and I could feel that he wasn’t dangerous. So, I promised to help him." The King didn’t respond immediately. He just stood there, watching her. The silence stretched too long. Ayla stepped closer, slowly, until she was standing right in front of him. She reached out and gently held his hands. Her golden eyes met his stormy grey ones. "Please," she said softly. "Let me help him. I know I can heal him." He didn’t
PRINCE ULRIC AND BETA GARRETT "Prince Ulric, you're here?" Beta Garrett asked, clearly surprised. Ayla, who had been standing nearby, was also shocked. She wasn’t expecting the prince to visit her small clinic this early. Ulric gave Garrett a long look, calm but sharp. "I see you've been here before, haven't you? Does the King know about this visit?" Garrett shook his head quickly. "It wasn’t planned, Your Highness. I live close by. I've been away from the pack ever since I fell ill. When I heard the King had been healed, it gave me hope. Then, I met her by chance yesterday. She kindly offered to help. I was planning to inform the King myself." Ulric folded his arms and gave a thoughtful nod. "I think that can wait. Tell him when you’re back in good health and standing strong before your people." "Thank you, Prince Ulric," Garrett said, bowing slightly before leaving. As soon as he was gone, Ulric turned to Ayla. "What can I help you with, Your Highness?" Ayla smiled, though f
The Weight of Regret ALPHA DAIRO Alpha Dairo sat quietly in his armchair by the tall glass window in his room. The sunlight touched his face, but he didn’t feel its warmth. His eyes were far away, clouded with thoughts. Heavy thoughts. Thoughts about Ayla. His chest tightened. His daughter. His sweet little girl. He hadn’t seen her since she left for Sea Moon. He didn’t know how she was doing. He didn't even know if she was eating well. That unknown tormented him. Guilt swelled in his chest like a bitter wave. "I was wrong," he whispered to himself. "I was so wrong." He closed his eyes and sighed deeply. If he could turn back time, he would have never made that decision. Never would he have agreed to that marriage arrangement. He thought he was doing the right thing, saving the pack, ensuring its future. The proposal had come with promises, with gold, with protection. He had looked at Ayla, young, untouched, obedient. He had convinced himself she was strong enough. That she c
AYLA The shadow at her door stayed longer than Ayla expected. A chill swept through her body, raising goosebumps across her skin. Her hands trembled slightly as she clutched her blanket tighter. "Is that you, goddess mother?" she whispered shakily into the dimness. There was no reply. Just silence. Her voice broke as she spoke again, soft and aching like a little girl confiding in her mother. "I know it is you. You've seen my pain, haven't you? You saw what he did. The King... he's too much for me to handle." Her throat tightened as she fought back the tears. "I like him, I really do... maybe even love him. But he hurts me too much. If you can just take this feeling away, take this love away, maybe then I can do my job well. Maybe then, I won’t hurt like this." Her plea hung heavy in the room. Then, a voice filled the air. Not loud. But it echoed deeply. "He is your destiny, Ayla. You cannot run from your destiny." The words vibrated like soft thunder, echoing through her so
AYLA "How?" Ayla asked herself silently, turning around slowly to face the King. Her lips parted, she was ready to speak, but before any words could come out of her mouth, another voice interrupted the silence. "Your Majesty, I think you should rest now," Ulric said quickly. “Oh, thank Goddess.” Ayla let out a quiet sigh of relief. She was thankful for Ulric's interruption. The tension in the room was high, and she wasn't ready to answer the King's question just yet. Warfox, the King's head guard, stepped forward and gently held the King's arm. With slow, careful steps, he guided the King upstairs to his room. Ayla stood still, watching them disappear. She wasn’t hiding anything. But after what she heard Elder Zhou tell Garrett…that he must explain his intentions clearly to avoid any misunderstanding. Ayla feared the King might misjudge Garrett's visit. And Garrett didn’t deserve any more trouble. Ayla walked toward the room she had prepared earlier for the King. It was a large
Ayla's eyes flew wide open when Tiara told her she had a guest. She sat up quickly, her heartbeat loud in her ears. She wasn't expecting anyone. At least, not tonight. She jumped out of bed, dressing. "You still haven't told me who it is," Ayla said, pulling her cloak over her shoulders. Tiara’s eyes were filled with worry. "Milady, please just come downstairs. You need to see this yourself. It’s serious." Without another word, Tiara turned and rushed away. Ayla huffed in frustration. "Why won’t she just say who it is?" she muttered, grabbing her slippers. She hadn't expected anyone this late. Who could it be? The Elders? Another unwanted visitor? She was tired. Her mind was already weighed down with emotions. As she descended the stairs, soft voices drifted from the parlour. They were muffled, unfamiliar. She paused on the final step, her heart thumping. Her hand rested on the wall for support. "I haven’t even opened my healing clinic yet," she thought. "Who would be here now