This cold, calculating woman who would rather reach out to Zion than me. This woman who talks about divorce, as if it’s something that could ever be so simple. Her love for me… was it all just a façade?I thought back to that night, when she had seen Lila and me together. The rage in her eyes, the h
Zion's POVI stare down at the proposal in my hand, the paper now damp with my previous drink. The alcohol hasn’t clouded my mind enough to miss the significance of what’s written in front of me. I can’t believe it. This proposal—this plan—is… impressive.I’ve spent years writing her off. Siena. The
I look down at the new proposal I’ve been working on. This one’s different. This one feels like it’s truly mine. It’s a refined version of my first plan, more thorough, more realistic. It’s my chance to prove myself, not just to Zion, but to everyone. To Raiden, to my pack, to myself.I push my hair
Siena's POVWhen Raiden turns to speak to me, his face is impossibly close, too close. His breath is warm against my skin, and I feel the heat of his presence radiating from him. My heart stutters, skipping a beat, and then racing uncontrollably. There’s something about the way he moves, the way he
I notice, and for once, I feel like I’ve won something. I’ve never felt like I was competing for Raiden’s attention before, but now, in this moment, it feels like the tide is shifting. I’m no longer just the woman he tolerates. I’m more than that now.We leave the noble’s villa after some time, and
Sienna‘s POVI can’t stop the words from tumbling out of my mouth as I point out the contradictions in Lila’s statements. I’m not holding back. Not anymore. “You said one thing, and now you’re saying something completely different. Which one is it, Lila?” I meet her gaze, my voice steady and firm, a
My wolf growls in the back of my mind. “You almost hurt her, but she slapped you right back! Haha, now it’s your turn to be upset!”I grimace, trying to ignore him. “Shut up. What do I have to be upset about?”But I know something is different. I’ve seen Siena get angry before, but never like this.
Siena's POVThe next day dawns crips and clear, the air buzzes with the fever of anticipation. Today marks the start of the first competition, and I can feel the weight of expectation pressing against my lip.I refuse to let it shake me.Standing before the full- length mirror, adjusting the deep em
(Raiden’s POV)The council chamber falls into stunned silence as Mia's carefully maintained composure fractures."You're suggesting I had something to do with this?" she asks, her voice pitched higher than normal. Her fingers nervously adjust her silver pendant."I'm not suggesting anything," I repl
“Raiden,” I greet softly, stepping aside to let him enter. His eyes scan my quarters instinctively, protective instincts clear despite his careful politeness.“I was making my patrol rounds,” he murmurs gently, eyes flickering briefly toward the evidence on my desk. “Are you alright?”His genuine co
(Siena’s POV)The delicate silver hairpin Raiden gifted me years ago lies on my desk, shifted ever so slightly from its usual position—a subtle yet unmistakable sign that someone has invaded my sanctuary.My breath catches sharply.I step closer, and my senses sharpen with acute awareness.Moonlight
(Raiden’s POV)The grainy security footage flickers ominously across the monitor, each shadowy movement like a knife twisting in my gut, whispering the name I've come to dread most—Lila.I lean closer, my eyes burning from hours spent staring at endless loops of surveillance.The cramped security ro
"Good idea," I manage, my voice steadier than I feel. "I'll speak with Tomas about positioning archers on the ridge above."Raiden turns his head slightly, his face now inches from mine. "Siena..."My pulse quickens softly, heart stumbling traitorously. "We should focus on the threat," I whisper, no
(Siena’s POV)Raiden’s plea from the cabin echoes relentlessly in my mind, threatening to fracture every wall I've painstakingly built around my heart.I pace restlessly across the elegant guest quarters, my fingers tugging nervously at the edges of my jacket, tension coiling sharply within my chest
My wolf surges forward, craving her closeness. "Siena, I—""Don't," she whispers, but she doesn't move away when I step closer. "Please don't say things you'll take back tomorrow.""I never should have taken them back the first time," I confess, my voice breaking as I reach for her hand. "I've misse
(Raiden’s POV)Thunder crashes violently overhead, shaking the cabin walls, as if nature itself demands I finally lay bare the secrets I've guarded far too long.The steady rhythm of rain pounds relentlessly against the roof, creating a constant, murmuring backdrop to the silence hanging between us.
The oak offers no comfort or wisdom. It offers only silence and the mocking permanence of symbols that now mean nothing at all.I brush my fingertips over the markings, memories flooding vividly through me.That day, I felt cautious hope despite our union's political nature.I'd believed, or at leas