LOGINVALENThree days. Three whole days of pretending not to notice Calithea.Three days of waiting for her to do exactly what I expected. Exactly what I had planned for. Yet she hadn't.It was far into the night but sleep deserted me. I stared out the window. Dark clouds crowded the sky, leaving the crescent moon to cast little light, just like how my life had been for a while now, after my futile efforts in having her. Not even Zirelle's practiced attempts to get my attention, or her endless pleas to spend the night in my room, made any difference. Footsteps echoed outside my office, and seconds later, Liam pushed the door open with a report file tucked beneath his arm. It seems I wasn’t the only one sleep deprived after all.“Something isn’t right with this report.” He said walking in. I shifted my gaze away from the window, and focused on him. He dropped the file onto the desk before taking the seat opposite mine. “What is it?” I asked.“The southern border report. Something in it
CalitheaShe quickly closed the distance between us.“What are you doing here? I thought you'd stopped this?” I asked, bewildered.Then again, I shouldn't have been that surprised. Mira had practically led the pack's notorious warrior-peeping adventures as a teenager, and it had nearly landed her in serious trouble more than once.“I have,” she mumbled, clearly unhappy about being caught red-handed. “I was just trying to get Reeds’ attention, that's all.” Her voice carried a softness I barely recognized. It sounded nothing like the Mira I'd known all these years.“Mira... what has gotten into you?” I tried pulling her away, but she resisted. “We need to leave before they notice us.” “I came here to see him.” I facepalmed myself, not believing the girl in front of me was my friend. It was like someone had swapped my best friend for a stranger.And somehow, it all traced back to Reeds.“We will leave once I see him.” She pulled me along to the corner where she had been peeping at the
CalitheaWhen I arrived at the dining hall, several elders were already seated around the table alongside Alice and Zirrelle. Valen wasn't there.Less than a minute later, I felt his presence before I saw him. My eyes lifted instinctively. His expression was darker than usual, and I quickly lowered my gaze and bowed. A faint trace of his cologne drifted through the air. I hated that I recognized it immediately.Breakfast was served shortly afterward.Rue moved around the room with the other maids, carrying dishes from one side of the table to the other.Even from several feet away, I could see the subtle excitement shining in her eyes as she placed a dish before Valen.Valen didn't even spare her a glance. Still, the sight annoyed me. She was impossible!The clinking of forks and spoons filled the room while the elders exchanged polite conversation.One of them was Elder Matt, Alice's father. The other was Elder Ernold. Though much older, there was something commanding about him. Th
ValenThe shock on her face stirred a quiet satisfaction within me. Perhaps this little game between us would prove far more entertaining than I had anticipated.“I... I didn't...” she tried again, her fingers tangling in her hair.I had noticed she always did that whenever she was nervous.“I thought you didn't want to. Besides, you made it very clear you weren't here for this.” I said, “Or did I misread the situation?” I took a step to her, not too close to feel her body warmth, but enough to make her uneasy. My gaze swept over her flushed face. The tension that had consumed her moments ago was still there, lingering beneath her skin.“I’m not a pervert you know,” I muttered, a small smile on my lips. Her eyes widened instantly. Good.“You were clear about what you wanted.” I shrugged. “And I respect that.”“You…did you… did that on purpose,” She whispered. I saw anger flash across her face, and I knew it might be for me, most of it was directed at herself for letting me go this f
Valen Pov She’s a strange woman.I tried to get her, but she resisted me, and when I took a break to plan ahead for my next move, she came to me herself. “This thief isn't even strong enough to steal without getting caught.” I whispered along the shell of her ears, and she stepped back from me. “I’m not a thief!” “Only a thief operates when everyone is asleep,”“But you are awake!” She accused.My wolf purred in contentment, at the anger on her face. “I get you aren’t a thief, but what are you doing here? Missed me already?”“I…i came here to…to…” She trailed off after an attempt to explain herself. “I didn’t mean to be here.”“But you’re here, or should I assume you came looking for a repeat of that night?” “You… how could you think that." she stuttered, her eyes wide. “Saying from experience. You came to meet me, just like that night, have you forgotten?” I cocked an eyebrow.“I’m sorry. I take the blame, it’s all my fault.” She quickly uttered, “If you would permit me, I wou
CalitheaThe cup struck the side of my forehead. A searing pain exploded through my skull as blood trickled down my face and splattered onto the floor. "This is nothing compared to the wounds you've carved into my heart." I said too calmly, amidst the pain I felt.“Callie…” Meredith’s voice reached my ear as she placed a small handkerchief over my bleeding head. I took the handkerchief from her. "I'll be leaving now." I gave Meredith a small tight smile, exiting the room.I left the house without another word, doing my best not to let the tears fall again.By the time I reached Ryden's house, the bleeding had slowed, and the ache had dulled a bit. I packed the few belongings that truly belonged to me, relieved to find the house empty, and devoid of Ryden’s presence.Every corner held memories I no longer wished to revisit. When I was done, I cast one last glance around the room before picking up my bag and leaving.Not long after, I found myself standing in front of the pack house
CalitheaThe hallway fell silent as Valen's words knocked the breath from my lungs.I slowly lifted my gaze to Ryden, searching his face for any sign that he understood what Valen had implied.His eyes were in slits. No one would easily swallow such a low blow, not when it was the bitter truth. “W
Calithea’s Pov The moment I looked up at him, every sensible thought I fled my mind. His pitch-black gaze held mine for a moment, before shifting away. As he turned the dim moonlight swept over his face. Standing this close to him felt like being dragged back into that tavern room from last n
“Spare me, Luna. I will tell the truth!”Everything in the room felt suffocatingly heavy. I clutched the side of my head, the room spinning so violently I felt like I was going to faint. “It wasn’t my intention to incite that rumor," Betty sobbed from the floor. "I only told Rue what I thought I s
“Look at her,” Zirelle said, her tone dripping with boredom. “You always find a way to make everything about yourself, don’t you, Calithea? The absolute audacity to stand tall while everyone else bows to our new Alpha.”I didn’t say a word. My tongue felt like lead, my eyes locked on the regal form







