LOGINOWEN“Are you okay?” I asked, glancing at Rosentine, who sat beside me in the backseat, so quiet I wondered if she was even breathing.She turned to me, lips curving into a shaky smile, nodding to convince me, but I could see right through it.From the moment I saw her, I’d been keeping a close eye on her. There was just something about her presence; it was gentle and easy, but she also looked so much like Bastian’s mate.I’d had a hunch he’d choose her, though I never imagined they’d turn out to be sisters. Since then, observing Rosentine became a habit, which was why I could tell whether she was lying or not.“What happened earlier? Why does Bastian look pissed?” I asked, even though I’d already witnessed everything from the window.I’d seen Rosentine and Rosalia in the garden, watched them walk together, and saw the moment Rosalia tumbled onto the ground all on her own. I couldn’t hear what they’d been talking about, but the way the maid looked at Rosentine told me something—they w
ROSENTINEDays slipped by, folding one into another, and somehow, Alpha Bastian started sharing his meals between my sister and me. Breakfast and lunch with her; dinner with me, though only once every two days.On those nights, we barely spoke. If we did, it was brief, just a few questions about my pregnancy, and me asking him not to tell my sister about how our family hated me.It almost felt like we were strangers sharing the same table, but I thought that was for the best.People in the pack had stopped whispering rumors about me, thanks to my sister clearing things up. But that didn’t mean they liked me now. The silence was a different sort of cold; every glance, every carefully blank face, made it obvious. Even without words, they still pushed me to the edges.And tomorrow, there would be a banquet. Since Rosalia had woken up from her coma a week ago and she’d been doing well, the Alpha decided to throw a party, celebrating her recovery.So, I decided I would buy her a gift today
ROSENTINEThe sound of water dripping steadily from the faucet, rippling into the tub where I sat submerged, echoed around the bathroom like the tick of a clock. I closed my eyes, feeling myself relaxed after the tiring day.Funny, I hadn’t really done anything strenuous. No running laps or lifting boxes. Still, my body felt wrung out. Maybe that was what mental exhaustion did—it seeped in deeper than sore muscles ever could.But even though I desperately needed a break, the idea of just… resting? It made my skin crawl, which was why, a few minutes later, once the warm water washed the fatigue and stress away, I climbed out of the tub and headed to the closet to slip on my nightgown.I was halfway through towel-drying my hair when a sudden knock rattled the door. My heart jumped, beating faster and faster, because I knew it was Alpha Bastian.Now that he was here, I realized, too late, that I’d forgotten to ask my sister what she really thought about all this setup. About her mate com
ROSENTINEMy heart was pounding, almost loud enough that it echoed in my ears, and for a moment, I thought about turning around, heading straight back to the main house. But I forced myself to keep going, to breathe, to steady myself until I arrived at Rosalia’s annex.There at the gate, a maid was already waiting, her posture sharp, her gaze cool, as if she’d known I’d be coming all along.There was no warmth in her eyes, only that ever-present animosity, but she led me wordlessly. As soon as I set foot inside the house, I could feel the other maids’ stares lingering on my back, their whispers prickling at my skin.“So shameless,” I heard, the word loud enough for me to hear.But this wasn’t new.Not for me.I’d already learned to keep my head high, even as the world tried to push me down, so I ignored their looks and followed the maid to my sister’s bedroom.“Lady Ara—Rosalia, the surrogate has arrived,” the maid announced, making my fingers clench at my sides. She hadn’t said anyth
ROSENTINEEating alone at the long table felt like being dropped into a well and left there, the silence echoing back at me no matter how I tried to fill it with clinks of silverware or the halfhearted scraping of my fork against the plate.I used to sit by myself all the time back in my old pack, barely noticing the emptiness, but ever since I’d stumbled into the warmth of shared meals here, I’d gotten used to having someone across from me while having random conversations.Now, I was eating alone again, and that made the loneliness seep in, slowly, painfully.“Do you not like the food, Lady Rosentine?” Hana’s asked, jolting me from my thoughts.“Ah, no, I like it. I just have a lot on my mind.” I tried to smile, a real one, not wanting to add another worry to her plate.It was a relief, honestly, that she hadn’t changed around me. Just like Beta Owen, she still treated me the same. She’d even told me herself she didn’t believe the rumors swirling through the pack, and she’d promised
ROSENTINEI already knew that I wouldn’t be able to sleep, so I spent most of my time staring up at the ceiling. No matter how many times I tried to force my mind to quiet, it wouldn’t calm down, not even for a moment.“I want to eat something sweet,” I muttered, the craving suddenly getting stronger, enough to get me out of bed.Carefully, I reached for my shawl and draped it over my shoulders before stepping outside. However, Michael, the warrior standing guard at my door, immediately blocked my path.“Where are you going?” he asked, his voice stern.“I’m hungry, so I’m going to the kitchen,” I replied, expecting resistance, but instead, he simply stepped aside. He then followed me, silent as a shadow.The house was quiet too; most lights were off, but the moonlight spilled in from the windows, painting the hallway in silver and softening the dark just a little. It was enough to make me see everything.“Careful,” Michael said when we reached the stairs. I glanced back at him and nod







