LOGINThe afternoon sun was completely blocked by a sudden, ominous gathering of heavy, bruised storm clouds over the Amber Court. Inside the grand fortress, the temperature had plummeted, but it had nothing to do with the winter wind.Dominic stood in the center of the royal library, his massive chest heaving, his powerful jaw locked so tightly the bone threatened to crack. He had personally torn through the archives, the dusty historical aisles, and the quiet reading corners.She was not there.His inner wolf was pacing frantically behind his ribs, a wild, snarling beast clawing to get out. The lack of Rosalie’s sweet, vanilla-and-snow scent in the palace was driving him to the absolute brink of madness. He spun on his heel, his heavy leather boots slamming against the stone floor as he stormed out of the library and headed directly toward the outdoor training grounds.The cold wind whipped at his dark hair as he stepped onto the snow-covered field. The high-ranking warriors were in the m
The first light of dawn was a pale, icy blue as it crept over the massive, empty bed in the royal chambers of the Amber Court.Dominic blinked his eyes open, his powerful body instinctively reaching out for the soft, warm curve of his wife. He swept his massive arm across the silk sheets to pull her against his chest, expecting the familiar, sweet scent of vanilla to greet him.His hand met nothing but cold, empty fabric.Dominic sat up abruptly, his amber eyes scanning the dimly lit room. The fire in the hearth had died down to gray ash, leaving a bitter chill in the air."Rosalie?" he called, his voice deep and raspy with sleep.There was no answer. Only the howling of the northern wind against the glass.His brow furrowed, a low growl of frustration vibrating in his chest. His inner wolf snapped awake, pacing restlessly, highly agitated by the lack of her presence in the room. Yesterday's icy distance still burned in Dominic’s mind. He assumed she had simply woken up early to avoid
The rhythmic clacking of the wooden carriage wheels against the frozen cobblestones sounded like a death knell. Inside the dark, velvet-lined interior of the carriage, the air was heavy, cold, and thick with the suffocating scent of fresh, unending grief.Rosalie pressed her forehead against the frost-covered glass of the carriage window, staring out into the dark, swirling blizzard. The high, jagged stone towers of the Amber Court were shrinking into the distance, slowly swallowed by the unforgiving white storm.With every inch of ground they gained, the fragile dam holding back her emotions completely shattered.A low, broken sob escaped her lips, sounding so hollow and ruined that it didn't even feel like her own voice. She curled her knees up to her chest, burying her face in the dark wool of her cloak, and wept. She wept for the girl she had been only two days ago, the girl who had lain in Dominic’s arms, believing his sweet, deep whispers of forever. She wept for the trust she h
The figure that slowly stepped out from the dark, towering hedges of the glass garden was not Dominic, but a low-ranking guard patrolling the perimeter. Ezekiel’s hand remained on the hilt of his hidden dagger, his broad chest shielding Rosalie until the guard offered a hurried, respectful bow to the Luna and moved along into the snow.Rosalie let out the breath she had been holding, her hand trembling as she pulled away from Ezekiel."Go," Ezekiel whispered, his blue eyes filled with a fierce, protective urgency. "Do not let him see the fear in your eyes tonight, Rosalie. Tomorrow, you will be free."The formal dinner that evening was a slow, suffocating torture.The grand dining hall was filled with the chatter of the court and the clinking of silver, celebrating the final night of the southern delegation’s visit. Rosalie sat stiffly in her velvet chair, her face painted with the false rose tint to hide her ghostly paleness.Dominic sat beside her, his mood dark, volatile, and highl
The heavy bedroom doors opened late into the night, the sound cutting through the dark silence of the chamber like a knife.Rosalie lay perfectly still beneath the silk sheets, her eyes wide open, staring blankly at the dark wall. Her body was completely rigid. Her heart did not jump with excitement as it usually did when he came back to her. Instead, it shrank into a tight, aching knot.Dominic stepped into the room. He moved quietly, trying not to disturb his sleeping wife. He shed his heavy, fur-lined cape and dark tunic, leaving them in the shadows before sliding into the bed beside her.As soon as he climbed under the covers, a wave of heat rushed over Rosalie’s back. He smelled of cold winter wind, dark cedar, and heavy pine. But to Rosalie, her broken mind could only imagine the phantom scent of another woman clinging to his skin. The thought made a sudden, violent wave of nausea rise in her throat. She had to squeeze her eyes shut and bite her inner cheek to keep from vomiting
The descent from the stone balcony felt like falling through a bottomless, frozen abyss. Ezekiel’s powerful arm remained wrapped securely around Rosalie’s waist, anchoring her trembling frame against his chest as he navigated the shadowed stone facade of the palace with practiced, silent agility. Rosalie didn't move. She didn't breathe. Her body was entirely rigid, a hollow shell containing a catastrophic, silent explosion. The image of the dark leather sofa, the flickering firelight, and Samantha’s bare skin against Dominic’s massive thighs was permanently seared into the backs of her eyelids. Every time she blinked, the glass shattered all over again.Ezekiel slipped through the open balcony doors of her private bedchamber, his boots making no sound as they met the plush, dark rug. He set her down gently, stepping back to give her space.The moment his support left her, Rosalie’s knees completely gave out.She collapsed onto the floor, her heavy emerald velvet skirt pooling around he
A wave of ice-cold dread clouded her very soul, freezing the blood in her veins. No... Her mind screamed as the realization hit her like a physical blow. Why did he want her dressed in the purest of silk
Rosalie stood in the center of her cramped attic. Her eyes were fixed on the broken mirror in front of her. She has freshly showered, and her skin glows.Stepping out of her ragged clothing, she stared at the beautiful dress she had stitched out of torn dresses of Carolina.Rosalie put on the dress
Tears streamed down Rosalie's cheeks as she tried to free her arm from her mom's grip, but it was of no use.She dragged her to the tree near the woods. Rosalie panicked and shook her head violently, but Penelope didn't listen.She forced her against the tree and tied her hands with the ropes behin
Life was not that bad.That was what she always told herself. Even in the worst circumstances, she always told herself that life would get better for her one day. She didn't even wish for a good life; she just hoped it would get better one day, and that was all.But certain things weren't written i







