INICIAR SESIÓNNarrator POVTension filled the room now. Both Cassian and Dorian stole a look at their father, who remained quiet. "Sera Greymoor has extended her courtship three times," Leith continued. His voice was steady. Like he'd rehearsed this in his head a hundred times before walking into this room. "I've rejected her three times. But if we move quickly and hold a traditional Joining ceremony tomorrow—a formal ceremony within the week—it neutralises Asher's leverage entirely. The photographs become irrelevant. A man engaged to an Alpha's daughter isn't threatened by rumours."Aldric still hadn't moved.Leith walked to the centre of the room, lowered himself to one knee, and bowed his head."I'm sorry, father," he said. "For the deception. For the risk I've brought to this family's name. For the position I've put Lyra in." His voice stayed level. His back stayed straight. His eyes were dry. "I ask that you consider my decision, Father."For a long moment, the only sound was Lyra's shallow a
Narrator POVThe living room was dark when Leith turned on the light.He'd chosen this room deliberately over the private sitting room on the second floor or the formal one near the dining hall. Here, there were no staff, no guards posted outside, no risk of a maid walking in with a tray of tea. Just four walls, an unlit fireplace, and enough chairs for the people he was about to break.He’d sent the same message to all four of them a while ago.Please come to the living room on the second floor. I have something important to tell you.Cassian had arrived first, barefoot, in a wrinkled shirt he'd clearly been sleeping in. He looked at Leith, looked at the empty room, and dropped onto the longest sofa without a word. He didn't ask what this was about. That was Cassian — he showed up first and asked questions later.Dorian came next. Fully dressed in a suit. Leith wasn't sure his eldest brother ever actually slept. He walked in, scanned the room for a few seconds, then took the armchair
Jaxon POVShe was shaking.Her hands were still beneath mine, her fingers loose now, the tension drained out of them. Her forehead was pressed against mine, and her breathing was uneven — small, broken exhales that hit my chin.She'd told me everything: The blackmail, her brother, the photographs, and the baby's heartbeat. Then she said the one thing I wasn't prepared for.I can't keep lying to you. And it scares me that I don't know why.I knew why.The bond. The thread between us had been there since the moment I caught her scent in that corridor before I saw her face, before I knew her name, before I understood that the universe had decided to make the Alpha King's daughter the one person I couldn't walk away from. And I knew why she couldn’t feel it the way I could: her wolf hadn’t confirmed it yet. The pull was one-sided for now. But even a bond she couldn't name was doing what bonds do — stripping her defenses, pulling her open, making honesty the only option when she was near m
Lyra POVThe phone started ringing again. I stood at the end of the east wing corridor, staring at Vivienne's name on the screen. My thumb hovered. My chest was tight. I didn't want to answer. But if she was calling today, on the same day Asher's deadline expired, it wasn't a coincidence.So I pressed answer.I didn’t say anything for the longest time. We just stayed there listening to each other breathe until Vivienne’s voice came through. “Lyra?”“Yes, Vivienne,” I said quietly. “What do you want?”“What do I want?” Her voice rang out, filled with disbelief"You stupid, selfish little bitch.” She fumed. "Do you have any idea what you've done? What you're doing to him? He built that pack from nothing, and you are trying to tear it apart because you couldn't handle being second best—"I pulled the phone away from my ear. Her voice was still coming through, sharp and distorted through the speaker, words piling on top of each other."—think you can just run to Daddy and hide behind the
Lyra POVI was the last one down to breakfast.The dining room was already full when I walked in — Dad at the head of the table, Dorian to his right, Cassian across from him, and Leith beside Cassian. Morning light streamed through the tall windows, catching the golden silverware. Everything in this palace was gold.When they saw me, all three of my brothers rose. Dad stayed seated, but his eyes followed me across the room. Cassian winked at me while Dorian and Leith looked on quietly as I approached the table. “I’m so sorry for coming down later,” I murmured. “I lost track of time.”After I left Leith’s room, I went back to mine and spent almost an hour staring out at the grounds. I felt so drained I almost didn’t want to come down for breakfast, until the maid kept coming by. If I didn’t eat, it’ll raise suspicion. When I reached the table, Dorian pulled out my
Lyra POVI'd been in Leith’s room for ten minutes before he came back.I couldn’t sleep after the call with Elliot, no matter how many times I tried. Anytime I closed my eyes, I would see Leith, tied to the stocks with people gathered around him, hurling stones towards a wounded and bleeding Leith. Around him, people stood in numbers holding weapons as they hurled insults at him. Even now, just thinking about the dream filled me with fear. So, at dawn, I went to Leith’s room. His door was unlocked—as always. Leith never locked anything. He once said locked doors were for people who didn't trust the people they lived with, and I'd laughed then, but now it just felt like another thing about him that was too open for the world he lived in.His room was neater than I expected. The bed was made, the curtains pulled back, morning light filling the space. It was different from Dorian's room, which I'd only seen once—all dark wood, files, and books stacked like walls. Leith's room breathed







