Chapter 5

Queen Rhed’s Warmth

The White Fang Palace was beautiful. Unfortunately, it was also freezing. Not just because of the weather. Not because of the snow. Not because of the mountains surrounding the territory.

No.

The palace itself felt cold.

The people walked quietly. The servants rarely smiled. The guards barely spoke.

And the future Alpha?

He might as well have been made entirely of ice.

Summit Angel Warm sighed dramatically as she collapsed face-first onto her bed.

A whole week. She had survived an entire week in White Fang Palace. Barely. Her face remained buried in the pillow.

“I miss normal people.”

A knock sounded.

Then another.

Then a third.

Without waiting for permission, the door opened.

Queen Rhed Fang entered. The elegant woman carried a tray filled with pastries, tea, and several books.

Sam immediately sat up. “Queen Rhed!”

“Good morning, dear.” The older woman smiled.

“It’s afternoon.”

“Then good afternoon.”

Sam laughed.

The Queen set the tray down.

For some reason, every time Queen Rhed entered a room, the atmosphere instantly became warmer. Safer. Like sunlight during winter. Nothing like her son. Absolutely nothing.

Queen Rhed noticed her expression. “What is that look?”

Sam crossed her arms. “You.”

“Me?”

“You and Froz can’t possibly be related.”

The Queen blinked.

Then laughed.

A genuine laugh.

“Oh dear.”

“I’m serious.”

The older woman sat beside her.

“What did he do this time?”

Sam pointed dramatically toward the window.

“Exist.”

Queen Rhed burst into laughter.

Louder this time.

“That’s unfair.”

“It’s accurate.”

“Oh?”

“He speaks like he’s threatening people.”

The Queen nodded. “Sometimes.”

“He looks angry all the time.”

“Sometimes.”

“He smiles less than a statue.”

“…That’s also true.”

Sam raised both hands triumphantly. “See?”

“My poor son.” Queen Rhed shook her head affectionately.

“Your poor son?”

“Yes.” The Queen smiled softly. “He tries harder than people realize.”

Sam nearly choked. “Froz?”

“Yes.”

“The same Froz?”

“Last time I checked.”

Sam stared.

Clearly, they were talking about different people. Because the Froz she knew wasn’t trying at all. He barely acknowledged her existence. Most of their conversations ended in arguments. Or him walking away. Usually both.

Queen Rhed poured tea.

Then her expression softened. “You know…”

Sam looked up.

The older woman stared into her cup. “There was a time when he wasn’t like this.”

Silence settled between them.

For a moment, Sam thought Queen Rhed would continue. But she didn’t. Instead, she smiled sadly.

And changed the subject.

“Have you seen the winter gardens?”

Sam blinked. “No.”

“Then we’re fixing that.” Queen Rhed immediately stood.

Before Sam could protest, the Queen grabbed her hand and pulled her from the room.

The Winter Gardens looked like something from a fairy tale.

Frozen flowers.

Silver trees.

Crystal fountains.

Snow-covered pathways.

Everything sparkled beneath the sunlight.

Sam’s eyes widened. “Wow.”

Queen Rhed smiled proudly. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

“It looks magical.”

The older woman nodded. “It was Froz’s father’s favorite place.”

Sam froze.

She remembered hearing that Froz’s father had died years ago. Apparently during a territorial conflict.

The Queen gently touched a frozen rose. “He used to bring Froz here.”

Something tightened inside Sam’s chest.

“Really?”

“Every week.”

A small smile appeared on Queen Rhed’s face.

“He would run through the gardens and chase butterflies.”

Sam almost laughed. “No.”

The Queen nodded.

“Yes.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“It’s true.”

“No.”

“It’s true.”

Sam stared at her.

Trying to imagine the terrifying Alpha chasing butterflies. The image was ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.

And somehow…

Adorable.

The Queen laughed. “That’s exactly the face I made when I found the old pictures.”

“There are pictures?”

“There are.”

Sam gasped. “I need to see them.”

“Maybe.”

“Please.”

“We’ll see.”

The conversation was interrupted by approaching footsteps. Heavy footsteps. Confident footsteps.

Sam immediately recognized them.

Unfortunately.

Froz.

The Alpha walked into the garden carrying several documents. His expression remained serious. Until he noticed them. Then his expression somehow became even more serious.

“Mother.”

Queen Rhed smiled innocently. “Froz.”

His gaze shifted toward Sam.

Instantly suspicious.

“Summit.”

She grinned. “Butterfly chaser.”

Silence.

Pure silence.

The Queen suddenly found the sky fascinating.

Froz stared.

Slowly.

Dangerously.

“What?”

Sam couldn’t stop smiling. “Nothing.”

“What did she tell you?” His eyes narrowed.

“Nothing.” The answer came far too quickly.

Froz immediately looked at his mother.

The Queen whistled.

Actually whistled.

Sam nearly died trying not to laugh. For the first time since meeting him, she saw something unexpected. Embarrassment.

Tiny.

Almost invisible.

But definitely there.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

The future Alpha sighed.

“Mother.”

The Queen smiled. “Yes?”

“Stop encouraging her.”

Sam gasped dramatically. “Excuse me?”

Froz ignored her.

Big mistake.

Huge mistake.

“Did you really chase butterflies?”

The Alpha closed his eyes.

Apparently asking the Moon Goddess for patience.

“Leave.”

“No.”

“Summit.”

“No.”

His eye twitched.

Victory.

Tiny victory.

But victory nonetheless.

The Queen looked delighted.

Later that evening, Queen Rhed invited Sam to dinner.

To Sam’s surprise—

Froz was there.

Unfortunately. The dining hall was enormous. Long table. Expensive decorations. Silver chandeliers.

Everything looked elegant.

Formal.

Terrifying.

Sam sat beside Queen Rhed. Froz sat across from her. The arrangement felt intentional.

She didn’t trust it.

Not one bit.

Dinner began quietly.

Too quietly.

The servants moved around silently.

The Queen occasionally spoke.

Froz focused on paperwork.

At the dinner table.

Like a psychopath.

Sam finally couldn’t take it anymore. “Are you working?”

Froz didn’t look up. “Yes.”

“At dinner?”

“Yes.”

“That’s sad.”

His pen stopped.

The Queen hid a smile.

Sam continued. “You know people usually eat during dinner.”

Froz signed another document.

“Interesting.”

“I wasn’t asking.”

“Interesting.”

She glared.

He ignored her.

The nerve.

The absolute nerve.

Eventually the Queen intervened.

“Froz.”

“Yes, Mother?”

“Put the papers away.”

“No.”

The Queen smiled sweetly. “Put them away.”

“No.”

The smile remained.

Dangerously.

“Put. Them. Away.”

For the first time all evening—

Froz surrendered.

The papers disappeared.

Sam nearly fell from her chair.

The mighty Alpha obeyed his mother.

Amazing.

Absolutely amazing.

The Queen turned toward her. “You see?”

“No wonder he listens to you.”

Froz sighed.

His mother looked proud. “As he should.”

Sam nodded seriously. “You’re terrifying.”

The Queen beamed. “Thank you.”

Dinner became significantly more enjoyable afterward. At least until Sam accidentally knocked over a glass. The crystal goblet fell.

Shattered.

The room froze.

Every servant stopped moving.

The guards looked alarmed.

Even Sam blinked.

Oops.

Several servants immediately looked toward Froz.

Waiting.

Expecting.

Preparing.

Apparently the Alpha disliked broken things.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Sam awkwardly cleared her throat. “My bad.”

Nobody moved.

Nobody spoke.

The tension became unbearable.

Then—

Froz stood.

The entire room stiffened.

He walked toward the broken glass.

Slowly.

Calmly.

Silently.

Sam braced herself.

Ready for a lecture.

Or punishment.

Or both.

Instead—

Froz crouched.

Picked up one of the larger pieces.

Then looked at a servant.

“Bring another.”

The servant blinked. “My Alpha?”

“A glass.”

The servant immediately ran away.

Moments later, a replacement appeared. Froz placed it beside Sam. Then returned to his seat.

Like nothing happened.

The dining hall remained silent.

Sam stared.

Confused.

That wasn’t what she expected.

Not even close.

The Queen noticed.

A small smile touched her lips. “Surprised?”

Sam nodded. "A little."

Froz continued eating. Completely unaffected. For some reason, that bothered her. Not because he wasn’t angry. Because she had expected him to be.

And she was beginning to realize something.

The rumors about Froz White Fang…

Didn’t always match reality.

After dinner, Sam found herself unable to sleep.

Again.

The palace remained quiet. The moon hung high above the mountains. Everything felt peaceful.

Almost.

She wandered through the halls. Eventually ending up near one of the palace balconies. Cold wind greeted her. Snow drifted through the air.

Then she noticed someone standing there.

Alone.

Looking toward the horizon.

Froz.

Of course.

The man apparently never slept.

Sam considered leaving.

Then remembered she wasn’t afraid of him. So she stepped onto the balcony. The Alpha didn’t turn around.

“I knew you were there.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Congratulations.”

Silence followed.

Strangely comfortable silence.

For once.

Neither argued.

Neither provoked the other.

They simply stood there.

Watching the snow.

Watching the stars.

Eventually Sam spoke.

“Why do you stay out here?”

His gaze remained fixed on the mountains. “Peace.”

She understood that. More than she wanted to admit. After her mother died, she had spent countless nights alone.

Searching for peace.

Searching for answers.

Finding neither.

The wind blew harder.

Snowflakes danced around them.

Then Froz unexpectedly removed his cloak.

Before she could react—

He draped it over her shoulders.

Sam froze.

The gesture caught her completely off guard.

“What are you doing?”

His voice remained calm. “You’re shivering.”

She looked down.

Then back at him.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Something strange passed between them.

Something neither understood.

Something neither expected.

Then Froz ruined it. “As future Luna, freezing to death would be embarrassing.”

Sam immediately threw the cloak at him.

“Take it back.”

The Alpha actually smirked.

A tiny smirk.

Gone almost instantly.

But Sam saw it.

For the first time.

She actually saw it.

And somehow—

That tiny expression changed everything.

Because it proved one thing.

The cold-hearted Alpha wasn’t completely frozen after all.

Somewhere beneath the ice…

Warmth still existed.

And for the first time since arriving in White Fang Palace—

Summit Angel Warm wanted to find it.