LOGINRafael’s study felt unusually calm.The golden glow of the evening sun filtered through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the polished wooden floor. Papers lay neatly stacked on the table, but Rafael’s attention was nowhere near them. He sat in his chair, elbows resting on his knees, fingers loosely intertwined, his gaze distant—lost somewhere far beyond the walls of the palace.“Rafael… what are you thinking?”Saraya’s soft voice pulled him back.He blinked once, then twice, as if returning from a place only he could see. His eyes found hers, and a small smile curved on his lips—gentle, warm… but not entirely reaching his eyes.“Nothing, Honey Bee,” he said lightly. “You tell me—have you practiced the
“Now… will you both get up,” Rafael said, raising one eyebrow, his tone calm but carrying that unmistakable authority, “or should I lend you a hand?”For a split second, Saraya and Phoenix froze.And then—In less than a heartbeat, both of them scrambled to their feet like guilty children caught stealing sweets, standing straight in front of him with overly tight, extremely fake smiles plastered on their faces.The contrast was so sudden and ridiculous that Nichole couldn’t hold herself back anymore.A burst of laughter escaped her.And then another.Within seconds, she was laughing uncontrollably, her hand clutching her stomach as she bent slightly forward.
“Landon!” Rafael and Miah yelled in unison, stepping forward. Landon, still consumed by his wolf instincts, let out another ear-splitting growl. But Rafael raised his hand calmly, and almost instantly, the massive wolf’s furious energy subsided. In the blink of an eye, Landon shifted back to Phoenix, who slumped weakly to the floor.Before Phoenix could collapse completely, Rafael caught him in his arms and gently lowered him onto the bed. Nichole, still sitting on the floor, watched with wide, wary eyes, unsure how to react to Phoenix’s sudden transformation and the intensity of his emotions. Saraya quickly came forward and extended her hand to Nichole, helping her to stand.Rafael’s gaze shifted between Phoenix and Nichole. The moment he entered the room, he immediately understood the situation: Phoenix’s growl in the study, the protective stance in front of Nichole&m
The room had grown quiet after the emotional storm that had passed between them and the light moments they had just shared.Phoenix and Nichole sat across from each other, the earlier tension slowly settling into something calmer—something fragile yet real.For a few moments neither of them spoke. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable anymore. It felt more like two wounded souls trying to understand each other.Nichole wiped the remaining tears from her face while Phoenix leaned back slightly against the couch, his gaze drifting toward the window beside them.Moonlight slipped through the glass, casting a soft glow inside the room.Nichole watched him carefully.She had expected anger from him.Or resentment.
Nicole slowly pulled back from the hug, wiping her tears with trembling fingers."I'm sorry," she murmured.Phoenix immediately shook his head, gently reaching forward to wipe the remaining tears from her cheeks with his thumb."You don't need to say sorry," he said calmly.His voice had softened compared to earlier."I can understand that you were trying to save yourself from getting hurt again."He paused briefly before continuing."But I promise you something."Phoenix tightened his grip slightly around her hand."I will never do something like that."His gaze turned serious.
Phoenix’s Room“Can I sit?” Nichole asked in a nervous tone.Her fingers were tightly intertwined with each other, betraying the storm raging inside her heart.Phoenix didn’t reply.He simply turned his face to the other side, his jaw clenched tightly as if he was holding back something heavy inside his chest.Nichole swallowed the lump forming in her throat.She took a deep breath before quietly lowering herself to the floor beside him, maintaining a respectful distance.For a few moments, neither of them spoke.The silence inside the room felt suffocating.Phoenix glanced at her from the corner of his eye.Nichole wasn’t looking at him.Instead, her gaze was fixed outside the window where the moonlight softly filtered into the room. The silver glow reflected in her watery eyes, making them shimmer with unshed tears.Her shoulders looked fragile.







