Chapter 3

The Cold Alpha

The entire palace seemed to hold its breath.

Summit Angel Warm stood frozen at the entrance.

Not because of the cold.

Not because of the snow.

Not even because of the intimidating palace surrounding her.

It was because of him.

Froz White Fang.

Standing at the top of the grand staircase like a king carved from ice.

The stories had never done him justice.

Not even close.

He was taller than she expected.

Broader.

Stronger.

Every part of him radiated power.

His black coat reached his knees, trimmed with silver fur around the collar. Snowflakes landed on his dark hair before quickly melting.

Yet it was his eyes that stole her breath.

Those cold blue eyes.

Eyes that looked completely devoid of warmth.

Completely devoid of mercy.

As though the world had failed him so many times that he no longer cared about anything it offered.

For a long moment, nobody spoke.

Nobody moved.

Then Froz slowly descended the staircase.

Each step echoed through the enormous hall.

One.

Two.

Three.

The closer he came, the heavier the pressure became.

Sam suddenly understood why people feared him.

His aura wasn’t just powerful.

It was overwhelming.

Beside her, Metro lowered his head respectfully.

Every servant in sight did the same.

Even the palace guards stiffened.

Froz stopped a few feet away.

Silence.

His gaze traveled from her head to her boots.

Carefully.

Methodically.

Like a hunter evaluating prey.

The examination lasted only seconds.

Yet somehow it felt much longer.

Then he finally spoke.

His voice was deep.

Calm.

Dangerously calm.

“So.”

Sam straightened instinctively.

“This is the daughter of Alpha Apo Warm.”

The words weren’t insulting.

Yet somehow they sounded like one.

Sam crossed her arms.

“And you’re Froz White Fang.”

A servant nearby gasped.

Another looked horrified.

Metro closed his eyes.

Moon Goddess.

This was going badly already.

Froz simply stared at her.

Expressionless.

Then something unexpected happened.

The corner of his mouth moved.

Not enough to be called a smile.

More like disbelief.

“As troublesome as the rumors suggest.”

Sam blinked.

“You’ve heard rumors about me?”

“I’ve heard many.”

His gaze sharpened.

“Breaking clan property.”

She lifted her chin.

“It was ugly.”

A servant coughed.

Froz continued.

“Skipping training.”

“It was boring.”

Another servant nearly fainted.

“Threatening suitors.”

“They deserved it.”

The silence that followed was painful.

Then—

To everyone’s shock—

Froz sighed.

Actually sighed.

As though he had suddenly inherited a headache.

“I see.”

Sam couldn’t help feeling victorious.

At least until he spoke again.

“You failed.”

The words struck like ice.

The hall instantly became silent.

Sam stared.

“What?”

Froz looked completely unimpressed.

“You failed.”

The words echoed through the chamber.

This time louder.

Colder.

More deliberate.

Anger immediately flared inside her.

She had traveled for days.

Left her home.

Left Lucifer.

Endured snowstorms.

And this arrogant wolf had the nerve to greet her like that?

“Excuse me?”

His expression didn’t change.

“You are too emotional.”

Her eye twitched.

“You don’t know me.”

“You are impulsive.”

Another twitch.

“You just met me.”

“You are reckless.”

Sam took a threatening step forward.

Metro silently prayed.

Queen Rhed, who had just entered from a nearby hallway, immediately sensed disaster.

Froz looked directly into Sam’s eyes.

And delivered the final blow.

“You are not suitable to stand beside me.”

The hall froze.

Every servant lowered their heads.

Nobody wanted to witness what happened next.

Unfortunately, they all did.

Sam exploded.

“YOU ARROGANT ICE CUBE!”

Gasps erupted everywhere.

A guard accidentally dropped his spear.

Metro nearly swallowed his tongue.

One servant actually crossed herself.

Froz stared.

Sam pointed directly at him.

“I traveled across mountains for this?”

Silence.

“You think you’re special because everyone is scared of you?”

Silence.

“You don’t even smile!”

Silence.

“You look like someone stole your favorite blanket!”

The hall fell into complete chaos.

Several servants turned away to hide their laughter.

Others looked ready to resign.

Metro was considering both options.

Froz simply stood there.

Expressionless.

Completely expressionless.

Which somehow made it worse.

Sam groaned dramatically.

“Say something!”

He blinked.

“No.”

The answer nearly killed her.

“You are impossible!”

“No.”

“You absolutely are!”

“No.”

Sam looked ready to commit murder.

Queen Rhed suddenly laughed.

A genuine laugh.

Everyone immediately turned toward her.

The elegant woman approached gracefully.

Silver hair.

Gentle eyes.

A warm smile.

Unlike her son, she looked welcoming.

Human.

Alive.

“Mother.”

Froz greeted calmly.

Queen Rhed ignored him completely.

Instead, she walked directly to Sam.

Then cupped her cheeks.

“Oh my.”

Sam blinked.

“What?”

“You’re adorable.”

The fierce energy instantly vanished.

Just like that.

Queen Rhed smiled warmly.

“Welcome to White Fang, dear.”

Sam suddenly remembered her manners.

“Oh…”

The older woman laughed softly.

“I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”

For some reason, those words made Sam’s chest tighten.

Looking forward?

No one had looked forward to her arrival.

Not even her own father.

Yet this stranger had.

Queen Rhed linked their arms.

“Come.”

Sam allowed herself to be pulled forward.

“Where are we going?”

“To eat.”

“I already ate.”

“Then you’ll eat again.”

Sam liked her immediately.

Unfortunately—

Froz ruined the moment.

“Mother.”

Queen Rhed stopped.

“What?”

Froz’s expression remained cold.

“She’s staying in the East Wing.”

The warmth in the room instantly disappeared.

Queen Rhed frowned.

“The East Wing?”

“Yes.”

Sam noticed several servants exchange worried glances.

Something wasn’t right.

Queen Rhed crossed her arms.

“The East Wing is abandoned.”

“It is available.”

“Because nobody lives there.”

“It is available.”

Mother and son stared at each other.

A silent battle.

Neither willing to surrender.

Finally, Queen Rhed sighed.

“You are cruel.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

Sam suddenly realized where Froz got it from.

Apparently stubbornness ran in the family.

Eventually Queen Rhed lost.

Unfortunately.

She turned toward Sam.

“Dear, if anything breaks, tell me.”

Sam narrowed her eyes.

“That doesn’t sound reassuring.”

“It isn’t.”

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

⸻

The East Wing looked exactly how Sam imagined a prison would look.

Huge.

Cold.

Empty.

Every hallway seemed endless.

Every room looked untouched for years.

Snow pressed against the windows.

The wind howled outside.

“This place is depressing.”

Metro nodded.

“It is.”

“You’re not helping.”

“Apologies.”

The servant led her toward a large bedroom.

At least the room itself wasn’t terrible.

A fireplace crackled in the corner.

The bed was enormous.

The furniture looked expensive.

Still.

It felt lonely.

Sam sat on the edge of the bed.

The reality of everything suddenly hit her.

She wasn’t visiting.

She wasn’t on vacation.

This was her new home.

The thought made her chest ache.

Metro noticed immediately.

His expression softened.

Slightly.

Almost invisibly.

“If it helps…”

Sam looked up.

“It doesn’t.”

“…I haven’t said anything yet.”

“Still doesn’t.”

A long pause followed.

Then Metro surprised her.

“Alpha Froz assigned twice the usual guard patrol around this wing.”

Sam frowned.

“What?”

Metro adjusted his glasses.

“Normally only two guards are stationed here.”

“And now?”

“Eight.”

She stared.

“Why?”

Metro shrugged.

“He didn’t explain.”

Interesting.

Very interesting.

For someone who clearly didn’t want her here…

That seemed strange.

Before she could ask more questions, a servant entered.

Looking nervous.

Very nervous.

“Lady Summit.”

“Yes?”

“The Alpha requests your presence.”

Sam groaned.

“Already?”

The servant looked sympathetic.

“Unfortunately.”

⸻

The meeting took place in what appeared to be a war room.

Large maps covered the walls.

Military reports filled the tables.

Several warriors stood nearby.

The atmosphere was serious.

Professional.

Intimidating.

Froz stood near the window.

Looking over the snowy kingdom.

When Sam entered, he didn’t turn around.

“Sit.”

“No.”

A pause.

Then he slowly looked back.

Blue eyes met golden ones.

A silent challenge.

Sam refused to back down.

So did he.

Eventually—

Froz sat first.

Sam immediately grinned.

“I win.”

Several warriors looked horrified.

Froz ignored her.

“Sit.”

This time she did.

Mostly because the chairs looked comfortable.

Mostly.

Froz folded his arms.

“There are rules.”

Sam sighed.

“Of course there are.”

“You will not leave palace grounds without permission.”

“Why?”

“Because I said so.”

She hated that answer.

“You will attend official events.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

The argument continued for five minutes.

Neither accomplished anything.

Finally Froz pinched the bridge of his nose.

A gesture remarkably similar to Alpha Apo.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

“Do you argue with everyone?”

He asked.

“Only people who deserve it.”

His gaze narrowed.

“And I deserve it?”

“Absolutely.”

To her surprise—

Something flashed across his face.

Not anger.

Not annoyance.

Something else.

Something dangerously close to amusement.

It vanished before she could confirm it.

Then Froz stood.

The meeting was apparently over.

“That’s all.”

Sam blinked.

“That’s it?”

“Yes.”

“You called me here for rules?”

“Yes.”

“You could’ve sent a letter.”

“I considered it.”

She groaned.

He walked past her.

Then stopped.

For a brief moment.

Neither spoke.

Then Froz finally said:

“The North is different from the Warm Clan.”

His voice had become quieter.

Less cold.

Almost.

“You won’t survive here if you remain careless.”

The warning felt genuine.

Unexpectedly genuine.

Before she could answer, he continued walking.

Leaving her alone.

Again.

Sam stared after him.

Confused.

Frustrated.

Curious.

The man made absolutely no sense.

One moment he acted like she was a burden.

The next he sounded concerned.

One moment he rejected her.

The next he assigned extra guards.

One moment he seemed heartless.

The next…

Not quite.

She hated mysteries.

And Froz White Fang was rapidly becoming the biggest mystery she’d ever encountered.

Outside, snow continued falling.

Deep within the frozen palace, fate quietly shifted.

Neither Alpha nor future Luna realized it yet.

But the first crack had already appeared.

Very small.

Almost invisible.

Yet it was there.

Because for the first time in years—

Froz White Fang found himself thinking about someone other than himself.

And for the first time since arriving—

Summit Angel Warm found herself wondering what kind of man truly hid behind those icy blue eyes.