Yolana’s stomach was churning uncontrollably. Before she could steady herself, she doubled over, vomiting all over Alejandro’s boots again and the polished stone floor. The room seemed to spin around her, her breath started coming in shallow gasps.Alejandro’s eyes widened in alarm, and he dropped to his knees beside her, his hands gripping her shoulders. “Yolanda!” he exclaimed, his voice sharp with panic. “What’s wrong? Are you ill? Marcus, call for a healer now!”Marcus, who had been halfway to the door, turned sharply and rushed out of the hall.Yolanda shook her head weakly, her hand clutching her stomach. “No, no,” she murmured, her voice trembling. “I’m… I’m fine. It’s not what you think.”Alejandro’s brow furrowed, he was confused and concerned. “What do you mean?” he asked, his voice low. “You’re clearly not fine. Tell me what’s happening.”Yolanda took a deep breath, her cheeks flushing with a mixture of embarrassment and something else, something softer, more vulnerable. Sh
She placed a gentle hand on his arm, her touch grounding him.“Alejandro,” she said softly, her voice carrying a warmth that cut through the tension in the room. “Ignore them. They don’t understand. They don’t see what you see.”Alejandro turned to her, his expression softening slightly as their eyes met. The anger in him faded, replaced by something quieter, more vulnerable. “Yolanda,” he murmured, his voice low, “they question my judgment. They think I’ve acted unfairly.”Yolanda shook her head, her eyes filled with unwavering support. “They don’t know what you know,” she said firmly. “They don’t see the danger she posed. But I do. And I trust you. Always.”Her words seemed to ease the tension in his shoulders, and he let out a slow breath, his gaze never leaving hers. “You don’t think I was too harsh?” he askedYolanda smiled gently, her hand tightening on his arm. “You did what you had to do,” she said. “And I’ll stand by you, no matter what. So ignore them. Focus on me. On us. T
That same day when the sun began to set, the grand hall of the castle was filled with the murmurs of a gathered crowd. Nobles, soldiers, and pack members alike had been summoned by Alejandro, and the air was thick with anticipation. No one knew why they had been called, but the tension in the room was in the atmosphere.Yolanda stood near the front of the hall, her arms behind her and her expression guarded. She attended and Alejandro had insisted that Marcus stood beside her, his sharp gaze scanning the room for any sign of trouble. “Any idea what this is about?” Yolanda asked, her voice low. Marcus shook his head, his expression curious. “No. But knowing Alejandro, it’s something big.” Before Yolanda could respond, the doors at the far end of the hall opened, and Alejandro entered. His red eyes were dark with determination, and his presence commanded the room. The murmurs died down as he stepped onto his podium, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. “Thank you all for coming,” he sa
Alejandro stood frozen in the hallway long after Clarice had disappeared, her haunting words echoing in his mind. “You took everything from me, Alejandro. The weight of her pain, her anger, and her instability pressed down on him like a suffocating fog. He knew he had to act fast. Clarice was unraveling, and if he didn’t intervene, she would drag Yolanda, the kingdom, and herself into ruin. Alejandro found Yolanda in her chambers, sitting by the window with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The morning light started streamed in, casting a soft glow over her face, but her expression was distant, her thoughts clearly elsewhere. She looked up as he entered, her eyes meeting his briefly before she turned back to the window. “How are you feeling?” Alejandro asked, his voice gentle as he approached her. Yolanda shrugged, her fingers tightening around the edge of the blanket. “Tired,” she admitted. “But I’ll live.” Alejandro knelt beside her, his crimson eyes filled with concern. “
Alejandro finished cleaning the blood from Yolanda’s arm, his touch lingering as he gently dabbed at the last traces of the wound. He set the cloth aside and reached for a clean towel, carefully drying her skin before wrapping it around her shoulders. “You’re freezing,” he murmured, his voice soft with concern. Yolanda didn’t respond immediately. She pulled the towel tighter around herself, her gaze fixed on the candlelight reflected in the water of the tub. The warmth of the room was a contrast to the cold ache in her chest, but it was a comfort she welcomed. Alejandro sat back on his heels, his red eyes searching her face. “Yolanda,” he said, his voice hesitant. “I need you to know something.” She looked at him, her expression guarded but not closed off. “What?” He took a deep breath, his hands resting on his knees as he gathered his thoughts. “Clarice… she was a part of my past. A part I thought I had left behind. But keeping her from you, keeping that part of my life from you
The room was quiet, the only sound the faint crackling of the fire in the furnace. But then, a noise outside the window made her freeze. It was subtle at first like a faint scratching, like claws against stone. Yolanda’s head moved up, her wolf stirring uneasily. She stood, her heart pounding as she moved towards the window. Before she could reach it, the glass shattered. Yolanda stumbled back, her breath catching in her throat as a snarling werewolf crashed into the room. Its eyes glowing yellow, it seemed sick and its jaws dripped with saliva as it charged at her. She barely had time to react, diving to the side as the creature’s claws slashed through the air where she had been standing. She fell to her feet, her mind racing as she tried to think of a way to defend herself. The werewolf turned, its growl low and menacing as it advanced on her. Yolanda backed up, her hands trembling as she reached for the dagger she kept on her bedside table. But before she could grab it, the cr