Liam:The first thing I noticed was her warmth.Alaria was curled against me, her face half-buried in my chest, her breaths slow and even as she finally allowed herself to finally give into a little peace. The morning light was spilling through the curtains, soft gold across her hair, and for a moment I just lay there, letting myself breathe her in.The world could have burned down outside, and I wouldn’t have cared. Not when I had her like this. Not when I knew that she was beside me.Careful not to wake her, I shifted, brushing the strands of hair from her face, and I couldn’t help the small smile that formed on my lips before I leaned in to kiss her forehead. Her lips parted slightly in her sleep, and something sharp twisted in my chest. I didn’t deserve this, not her, not the peace of this moment, but god, I wanted it. I wanted to embrace every second of it, but I knew that now, more than ever, I was going to have to earn every second back.I slid out of bed quietly, pulling the b
Alaria:“Hey.” Liam said from my bedroom as I stood out in the balcony. “It's a cold night.”“You do realize that I am in my room, out on the balcony because I needed my space, right?” I asked, not turning to face him. He walked towards me and draped a blanket over my shoulders.“I know I saw you from the garden and it is the reason why I came.” He said, watching as I tightened my hand around the blanket. “You're still shutting yourself off. Despite everything and despite the date earlier.”“It's not going to be easy for me to just forget that, Liam.”“I know, but you can at least try. But you don't want to.” He said and I laughed, shaking my head as I looked away from him, fighting back the tears from falling from my eyes.“It's not that I don't want to, it's just the fact that I lost so much, Liam. And the idea of this happening to me again was one that I never expected.” I said, clearing my throat, fighting back how broken I sounded. “I don't like this. I don't like wanting to push
Darius:The fire hissed when another log split in the flames, shadows flickering across the room. My glass of scotch dangled loosely between my fingers, but my mind wasn’t on the burn of the liquor. It was on her.The one person who had dared not only defy me, but to do it without fear.Alaria.The way she’d looked at me, fury in her eyes but fire still simmering beneath. I could taste her defiance. And it made the waiting unbearable.It made my skin crawl as I felt the pressure under it, knowing that no matter how hard I tried, claiming her was almost impossible.“You’re slipping.”I turned my head. Marcus, my beta, stood near the edge of the hearth. Broad-shouldered, steady, his expression carved from stone. He’d been with me through blood, war, betrayal—long enough to think he had the right to call me out.“Am I?” I asked, raising a brow. “I wouldn't have known.”“Yes,” Marcus said flatly. “You’re letting jealousy show. And if Liam or his people catch the scent of it, you’ll burn e
Liam:I waited outside the estate’s main doors, adjusting the cuffs of my shirt as if that would help the nerves crawling under my skin.I wasn’t supposed to be nervous.I wasn't even supposed to be as giddy as I felt.I’d faced bloodied wars. I’d led wolves into battle. I’d stood before Elders and kings without blinking. I even fought off rogues who invaded the territory without fearing the sight of blood, the smell of it, all while I was craving the adrenaline that came with it.But this?Waiting for her?Knowing that, she could just easily step back and say no.This made my heart hammer in my chest like I was a damn teenager again.It made me feel like I was weak to my knees, and though I knew that she was not going to step back, at least I hoped that I knew… I found myself staring at the door more times than necessary.When the door opened and I turned, everything stopped.I held my breath, my heart raced, and goosebumps started rising over my skin.She stepped out, the deep blue
Alaria:I was tired.It was a long day, but I wasn't complaining about that.It was not the kind of tired that could be slept away. The kind that clung to your bones, heavy and unshakable. And it was starting to get on my nerves. In a way that I couldn't even describe or talk about, mostly because I didn't even know how to voice it out.Or maybe I did, I just didn't think that it would be worth the trouble.I had barely stepped out of the shower, a towel wrapped around my shoulders, when I noticed something different about the room.The windows were open, letting in the soft blush of afternoon light. A tray of warm tea sat untouched on the table. I frowned in confusion. I was not alone, and it was not a maid who was here.And that was when it caught my attention… it was the dress.Laid out gently on the edge of the bed. A deep, midnight blue. Silk. Elegant. Subtle. My exact taste, and somehow… more.I frowned in confusion as I looked around, trying to find out where this dress came fr
Amelia:I shouldn’t have followed her.I told myself that a dozen times as I paced behind the hedges, my arms crossed and my jaw set. She was already escorted with the guards, she didn’t need me around...But today I lurked around, and it wasn’t about duty.Today was about instinct. About something I couldn’t shake.I’d seen Selene walking. Heard about the “gracious permission” Alaria had given. And I had no problem with it, I just knew to roam around, to walk, trying to make sure that she did not do anything that was foolish. At this point, I no longer trusted her, nor did I trust, the confidence that she had in herself.And truth be told, everything started normally and I didn't have anything to worry about. I didn't have anything to think about. Well, that was until I saw him…Beta Kai.His posture had shifted. Tense, guarded… but not unaffected. He controlled himself, but she was trained for this. Alpha Darius didn't just choose her for her pretty face, she knew what she was doing