Lying lips Varyn(POV)

“Come,” Kade says. “My chamber.”

He moves. I follow.

Inside, he shuts the door and takes the ledger from my hand.

“It clearly lists your mother as a suspect,” he says.

“I know,” I breathe.

“Don’t worry. I’ve started investigating. We’ll find the truth.”

“What?”

I hit him—grab his shirt and throw him aside. His eyes widen.

“You started an investigation after I told you not to?” I snarl. “You challenged the elders again. Why?”

Silence stretches.

“I was close,” I say. “Close to having Sereyna with me. Even if only for another month. Just a little more time with the pup . You ruined everything.”

Kade steadies himself. “How do you mean? Were you planning to keep her without presenting her to the council?”

“Yes,” I snap. “I wanted her close. Just a while longer.”

He frowns. “So because I began investigating, you think the council fabricated this?”

“Exactly, Kade.”

I snatch the ledger and throw it at him. “They’re threatening me—forcing me to abandon the investigation and submit to Morwen. That’s what this is.”

“They’re threatening my mother’s life,” I continue, voice low. “So I’ll move faster. So I’ll kill Sereyna’s mother. Can’t you see it?”

Kade hesitates. “But if the elders can fabricate this… doesn’t that mean they might have fabricated her mother’s role in the Grand Lunas’ slaughter too?”

“They didn’t,” I snap.

“How do you know?”

I turn away. “My father.”

He stiffens. “Your father?”

“He discovered the truth first,” I say. “He knew Vaelor’s mother was involved that night. But he didn’t mention Sereyna’s mother. Made me swear I would protect Vaelor and his mother —if the council ever raised it.”

Kade sinks into a chair. “I’m sorry.”

“Now you see how exposed I am outside that chamber,” I say coldly. “Do not mistake restraint for weakness. Obey my commands always .”

I pause. “Did my Gamma carry out the maiden’s exile?”

“No,” Kade answers. “You left before it was ordered.”

“Then go,” I say. “Make sure she’s safe. Keep her far from Sereyna’s mother’s reach.”

Kade leaves.

I sink into the chair.

For now, I have to yield to the Council. Buy time. Bring Sereyna and the child back—or let her disappear entirely so her mother lives, so one day she might forgive me and allow me near our son.

Or I relinquish the Alpha marks and follow her into exile.

The door bursts open.

I snap my eyes up.

“Alpha—Alpha,” Kade calls, urgency sharp. “Did you fall asleep?”

“No,” I breathe.

“We found her—too late,” Asher, my Gamma, says quietly.

“What do you mean, too late?” I’m on my feet.

“All afternoon we searched. We only just found her body.”

“What?” The word rips out of me. “How?”

“She was holding attire from the female-ruled tribe in her right grip,” Asher says, voice low.

Rage snaps tight in my chest. “Why didn’t you take her into custody when I left the Council?”

“Forgive me, Alpha King.”

Kade exhales. “You know what this means. You have to let her go—for now.”

“No. Not now. I’ll wait until night.”

Their eyes widen.

“It is night,” Asher says. “We stayed away all day. We didn’t know how to tell you.”

I shove past them and run.

Please—let her still be unharmed.

I throw the door open.

Sereyna looks up, smiling.

“King, you’re back.” She moves into me. “What kept you from my arms so long?”

She hugs me—then her hand slides between my legs. I harden instantly.

Stop, I command my wolf.

She strokes me harder.

I pin her to the wall, lift her onto my thigh until we’re hip to hip. My wolf strains against me—hers calls mine like a blade to bone.

She unzips me, lifts her robe.

“Carry me,” she breathes.

My control snaps.

I cradle her waist, slide into her. She groans as I drive into her, carrying her to the bed. I lay her down and keep stroking —hard, relentless.

“Get hold of yourself,” I snap.

She freezes, pleasure breaking from her eyes.

It was meant for my wolf.

But I say it again, colder.

“Get hold of yourself, Sereyna.”

She pulls back, letting me slip free of her.

“What do you mean?” she mutters.

I see it—the waiting trauma in her eyes. I’ve broken this girl’s heart too many times, always with lies.

“Get hold of yourself,” I say, already zipping up. “I’m tired of having sex with you.”

Her eyes fill instantly.

“No—Varyn, stop.” She reaches for me from the bed.

I step away. She stares at her empty hand.

“Go already,” I say. “Haven’t you had enough sex?”

“Why do you keep turning everything into sex?” Her first tear falls. “You wanted this.”

“Everything with you is sex,” I snap. “You want it, and I give it.”

She slaps me—hard. Fury burns in her eyes.

“Shut up,” she gasps, clutching her chest. “What are you scared of? You love me, Varyn. I feel it—here.” Her hand presses to her heart. She looks straight at me. “Deny it.”

“I do not love you, Sereyna,” I bark, voice sharp. “You keep coming back because you can’t live without sex.”

She falters. “What? This isn’t about sex. I love you. Stay with me. I’ll let you be the raging king you are—I won’t drain you like the men in my tribe.”

“You dream,” I cut in. “I never intended to stay. I only played along to have you again tonight. And even that—you couldn’t control yourself.”

“I can,” she cries.

“Then prove it,” I say coldly. “Stay away. If you have any dignity, never return to me.”

I turn for the door.

“Varyn—please.” She drops to her knees. “For the sake of our unborn child. Please, let me stay.”

Her sobs chase me. Every breath is regret. Reopening wounds.

I shut the door.

I rest my forehead against it.

Please, Sereyna. Leave. Give me time. I’ll fix everything.

Her crying seeps through anyway—muffled, broken.

Each breath cuts.

I bite down on my tongue. I hold my wolf back from tearing the door open.

Because I know—

If I touch her again, I won’t let go.

I’ll choose her.

And I’ll die by her mother’s hand without regret.

My wolf doesn’t surrender.

I force myself away from the door.

And the silence—without her crying—hurts worse than the sound ever did.

My heart aches for you, my fated mate.

But you have to go.

Take care of our son.

I will bring you back.

A soft crack.

I lift my head.

It’s Sereyna.

She slips out of my father’s chamber, careful, quiet—already leaving me behind.

I had Kade and Asher clear the maids.

No witnesses.

I follow at a distance as she disappears into the Blue Woods.

Slow at first.

Then she breaks into a run.

I follow.

This isn’t the path to her mother’s land.

Does this mean… she truly abandoned her to exile?

I thought it was a performance. A threat.

I underestimated her resolve.

Grief fills me—thick, suffocating.

This is how far the woman I love fled into exile.

This is how far she came back for me.

And I sent her away again.

She finally stops at a camp.

Voices rise—welcoming her.

I hide before they can see me.

Could this be the outcast pack—Vaelor’s seat as Alpha?