LOGINThird Person POVThe moment the car carrying the women disappeared beyond the gates, the atmosphere in the palace shifted.Lighter in some ways.Heavier in others.The silence they left behind didn’t last long.Ryan stood in the courtyard with Kharl not too far from him, both men aware of each other without speaking. The tension between them had not faded since the breakfast table. If anything, it had only settled deeper, like something waiting for the right moment to rise again.“Training field,” Ryan said shortly, turning to the boys.Rune’s eyes lit up immediately.Blaze looked curious, still recovering but determined not to be left out.“We’re coming too?” Rune asked.Ryan nodded. “You’re part of this pack. You train.”That was all the encouragement Rune needed.Blaze followed closely, while Kharl’s men fell into formation behind them. Kharl himself moved with them, silent, observant, his presence as commanding as ever.The walk to the training field was filled with energy. Guards
Celeste POVBy the time I got out of my room that morning, the palace was already awake.I could hear soft footsteps in the hallway, the distant clatter of dishes from the kitchen, and the faint hum of voices drifting through the air. It felt… normal. Too normal, considering everything that had happened in the past few days.For a brief moment, I stood still outside my door, taking a breath.Then I pushed the thoughts aside and made my way toward the children’s room.When I stepped inside, I paused.They were already ready.The nannies had done their job early. Rune and Blaze were dressed neatly, their hair combed, while Alora stood in front of the mirror, admiring herself with a proud little smile.I couldn’t help but smile.“Good morning, my babies,” I said softly.They turned immediately.“Mom!” Alora ran first, throwing herself into my arms.I caught her, laughing lightly as I kissed her cheek.Rune and Blaze followed, though slower.“Good morning,” Rune said, trying to sound seri
Ryan POVSometime in the middle of the night, I woke up.At first, I didn’t know what had pulled me out of sleep. The room was quiet, the kind of silence that settles deep into the walls of a palace when everyone else is resting. No footsteps in the hallway. No distant voices. Just stillness.Then I felt it.Her.Janet was beside me, curled slightly into my side, her breathing slow and steady. One of her hands rested lightly against my chest, like she had reached for me in her sleep without even realizing it.I turned my head slightly to look at her.Even in the dim light, I could see her clearly.The softness of her face.The faint crease between her brows, like something was still bothering her even in her sleep.My chest tightened.She had smiled earlier.Tried to act like everything was fine.But I knew better.I raised my hand slowly and brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face. She stirred a little but didn’t wake.“You think I don’t see it,” I whispered softly, more to
Ryan POVBy the time I returned to the palace, the sun was already high.The morning had been long. Longer than it should have been. Pack matters always had a way of stretching time, especially when my mind wasn’t fully in it.And today—It wasn’t.Not even close.Even while speaking, giving orders, listening to reports, part of me kept drifting back.To her. My lovely mate.To the way she had looked this morning. Quiet.Trying not to take up space. Dad and Jasmine didn’t help with the way they were cold to her too. I didn’t like it. I made a mental note to talk to both of themI pushed the door to my room open, expecting to see her sitting where I left her.But she wasn’t.For a brief second, my chest tightened.Then I saw her.On the bed.Asleep.Curled slightly to one side like she had just laid down without planning to.My expression softened immediately.I stepped inside quietly, closing the door behind me with care. The room felt calm. Still. Like nothing had happened.But the
Janet POVAfter breakfast, I stayed behind the hallway while Ryan and Celeste spoke quietly with one of the guards about some pack matters.Ryan looked back at me before leaving.“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” he asked.There was concern in his voice. Real concern. Not the kind people say just to be polite.I nodded and gave him a small smile.“I’ll be fine,” I said. “Go. You have things to do.”He didn’t look fully convinced.“I won’t be long,” he added.“I know,” I replied softly.He stepped closer for a moment, brushing his hand gently against mine before turning to leave with Celeste.And just like that—I was alone.Not completely alone.There were people everywhere in the palace.Servants walking through the halls. Guards standing at different corners. Voices echoing faintly from distant rooms.But still—I felt alone.I stood there for a moment longer than necessary, unsure of where to go or what to do. Everything here was still new to me. The palace was too big. Too quiet in s
Kharl POVBreakfast ended, but nothing truly settled.The silence that followed lingered long after we all left the table. It stayed in the halls, in the looks people gave each other, in the way no one spoke more than necessary.Celeste and Ryan left not long after saying something about Pack duties and Responsibilities.Things that could not wait, even with everything happening.I watched her leave.She didn’t look back.Not at me.Not even once.I told myself it didn’t matter.That this wasn’t about her.That I was here for the children.But the truth was harder to ignore than that.Everything between us still stood unresolved.And I had no idea how to fix it.The children were left in their room after breakfast, and for a moment, I stood outside the door, my hand hovering just above the handle.I had faced wars.Led battles.Made decisions that affected entire packs without hesitation.But this—This felt harder.I pushed the door open anyway.They were inside.Alora sat on the flo
Kharl POVRyan reached her before Kharl even realized he had stepped back.One moment Celeste had been standing beside him, her composure holding by sheer force of will, her breath still uneven from the attack; the next, Ryan was there, crossing the terrace in a blur, pulling her into his arms with
Celeste POVThe room felt different after Janet left.Not empty—just… still.For a while I remained where she had hugged me, my hands resting loosely at my sides, my gaze drifting toward the mirror where she had stood moments earlier. I could still see the image of her in that royal blue dress, eye
Celeste POVI was still standing in the middle of the room, my heart unsteady from everything that had just happened, when the door opened.The sound made me turn too quickly, my thoughts still tangled in Kharl’s words, in the warmth of his arms, in the dangerous familiarity of that kiss. For a sec
Kharl POVHe had told himself he would let her walk away.He had meant it when he said he understood.But the moment Celeste turned from him, her face lit by that unguarded, effortless smile as she spoke into the small device in her hand, something inside him twisted with a force that made it hard







