Chapter 11

BLYTHE'S POV

The mornings in Fresh Meadows were always crisp and scented with pine and wildflowers.

Today, it all smelled like loneliness.

I stood at the edge of the stone balcony of the Western Tower, arms folded tight around my body. Below, the park stretched in golden stripes of sunlight and long shadows, where life carried on without me. 

My gaze wandered across the training grounds below. Warriors sparred with one another, their movements a blur of muscle and precision. Omegas ran errands, heads bowed low. Life buzzed, unbothered by the storm brewing inside me.

But he wasn't there.

Not where he usually was.

She didn't see him. Not yet.

But she felt him — a gnawing ache tucked under her ribs, like a wound that refused to heal.

Xavier had been avoiding me.

Deliberately.

Painfully.

At first, I thought about how he took a longer route around the courtyard.

I thought I was imagining it.

The way he volunteered for assignments at the farthest corners of the park.

The way he kept his head down when our paths accidentally crossed.

The hurt sat heavy in my chest.

How foolish I was—to think a few kisses and stolen moments could bridge the abyss between who we were.

A Queen.

An omega.

I leaned further over the rail, scanning the faces below.

He wasn't there.

Coward.

The word surfaced bitterly, but she didn't know if she aimed it at herself or him.

"Looking for someone, My Lady?" a voice purred behind me.

I didn't have to turn to know it was Lady Marrow, one of the court's sharpest tongues masked in velvet courtesy.

"My Lady," she continued. "Your council is waiting."

Blythe leaned against the railing, letting her eyes scan the park's far side. The workers were busy — mending fences, tending the training fields — but none moved with the particular quiet grace she was searching for.

She sighed, pushing off the rail.

"Simply taking in the view," I said lightly, smiling.

. "I'll be down shortly," I added without turning.

Her eyes, dark as ink, twinkled with something unspoken. "The view, indeed."

With a slight bow, she glided away, leaving behind the scent of jasmine and suspicion.

I exhaled slowly, trying to quiet the thundering of my heart.

In the courtyard, she walked among her people — a queen without guards, without ceremony.

The nobles hated it when she did this. Said it made her look weak.

But today, Blythe didn't care.

Today, she needed something tangible.

Something to fill the emptiness Xavier had carved inside her.

Later That Day

I walked the long corridors of the palace, my heels clicking softly against polished marble.

Everywhere I looked, there were reminders of duty, of sacrifice.

Portraits of my ancestors lined the walls—strong men and fierce women, their painted eyes judging me silently.

They married for alliances. They ruled with iron and grace.

Why should you be any different, Blythe?

I pushed the thought aside.

The stables were on the far end of the grounds, tucked behind the orchards where sunlight dappled the earth in gold and green.

I didn't mean to go there.

At least, that's what I told myself.

But my feet had a mind of their own.

The scent of hay and horse filled the air, warm and familiar. It was a place untouched by court politics and fake smiles.

I found him there.

Xavier.

Bent over a restless stallion, soothing it with soft murmurs and firm hands. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing forearms corded with strength. His hair fell over his brow, wild and untamed.

He looked so alive.

So achingly beautiful.

My breath hitched.

For a moment, I watched.

Watched the gentle way he spoke to the animal.

Watched the patience in his every move.

That kindness—that steady, unwavering strength—had first drawn me to him.

Not lust.

Not rebellion.

Something deeper.

Something dangerous.

As if sensing my gaze, he stiffened.

He didn't look up.

Didn't acknowledge me.

Instead, he wiped his hands on a cloth, murmured something to the stable boy, and disappeared into the back stalls.

Avoiding me again.

My chest tightened painfully.

That Night

I sat alone in my chambers, the fire crackling low in the hearth.

The world outside was silent, save for the occasional cry of a wolf in the distance.

I traced the rim of my wine goblet with a fingertip, lost in thought.

This was madness.

I was a Luna.

A Queen.

The wife of the Alpha.

And yet, my heart raced at the thought of an omega's smile.

I should be furious with him.

With myself.

Instead, all I felt was hollow.

My mind wandered back to Vito—to the boy he once was.

The way he used to slip flowers into my satchel during lessons.

The way he promised to protect me after my parents died.

Somewhere along the way, that boy had vanished.

And I—

I had learned how to survive without expecting tenderness.

Until Xavier.

I closed my eyes, willing the memories away.

The Next Morning

Word of a disturbance near the eastern fields reached my ears just after dawn.

A bull had broken free from the pens, endangering workers and livestock.

I threw on a cloak and rushed out, heart hammering.

Part of me is desperate for distraction.

Part of me is hoping.

By the time I arrived, the chaos had subsided.

And there he was.

Xavier stood in the center, muscles taut, gripping the bull's halter with bare hands.

The massive and furious animal bucked and thrashed—but Xavier held firm, unyielding.

Gasps and murmurs rippled through the onlookers.

No ordinary omega should have been able to restrain such a beast.

Not without help.

But Xavier did.

With strength, that didn't make sense.

I took a trembling step forward, my eyes locked on him.

He finally looked up.

For the briefest second, our gazes collided.

Something passed between us then—something raw and electric.

And then, just as quickly, he tore his eyes away, yanking the bull toward the safety of the pens.

My heart pounded in my chest.

Something was wrong.

Something I couldn't yet name.

Final Twist / Cliffhanger

As the crowd dispersed, I lingered in the shadow of an old oak tree, trying to make sense of what I had seen.

Lady Marrow approached from behind, her voice low and sharp:

"My Lady," she said, "you should choose the things you find interesting more carefully."

I turned, frowning.

She smiled—sweet as poisoned honey.

"There are ears everywhere," she whispered. "And some secrets... are fatal when overheard."

Before I could respond, she was gone, her skirts whispering over the grass like a ghost.

I stood frozen, the words chilling my blood.

Had someone seen me watching Xavier?

Had someone begun to suspect?

Lightning crackled on the horizon, the sky growing dark even though it was barely noon.

A storm was coming.

And I had no idea if I would survive it.