LOGINSilk, perfume, and the dizzying scent of luxury. Thalira didn't just take Morvienne shopping; she curated an experience. From the moment they stepped into the high-end district, it felt as though they had entered an entirely different world."Look at this one, Morvienne! The cut of this dress would make your waist look absolutely lethal," Thalira exclaimed, holding up a shimmering, emerald-green slip dress that probably cost more than some people's yearly rent. Morvienne touched the fabric, her fingers tingling. It was breathtaking. "I shouldn't be spending this," the thought came, her mind flashing back to the cold, hard resolve she had when she first entered Kael's life, "I shouldn't be here at all, but it's okay. It's just a role. Nothing else.""I... I don't know, Thalira. It's beautiful, but maybe it's too much?" She whispered, her voice wavering as she pretended to be overwhelmed by the price of the dress. Thalira paused, her playful expression softening. This time, she did
The wake-up after a confession is always the sweetest. Morvienne stirred slowly, the haze of sleep clinging to her as she felt the warmth of another body pressed against her back. Before she could fully open her eyes, she felt a soft, unhurried press of lips against her skin. Kael started with her neck, his kisses light and lingering, before moving up to her cheek and the tip of her nose. Morvienne's eyelashes fluttered, her mind slowly registering the sensation. She felt Kael dive deeper, burying his nose into the crook of her neck and inhaling her scent deeply as if she were the only source of oxygen in the room.As she finally opened her eyes and shifted her head on the pillow, she found him already watching her. His gaze was heavy, filled with an intensity that made her heart skip. Before she could even manage a "good morning," Kael leaned in and pecked her lips. Then he did it again, and again, quick, playful kisses that caught her off guard. Morvienne let out a sleepy giggle,
It wasn't until four o'clock in the morning that the celebration finally came to an end. Everyone had retreated to get some much-needed sleep after a long, fun night, and Kael and Morvienne were now tangled together after a hot shower, the sheets kicked down to their ankles. Kael's arm was draped heavily over Morvienne's waist, his thumb tracing slow, absent-minded circles against her hip. He was breathing deeply, his chest rising and falling against her back in an even rhythm.Morvienne kept her eyes closed, her breathing shallow and timed to match his. She waited, listening to the shift in his heart rate, and the way his muscles finally went slack. Once she was sure he had drifted off, she shifted slightly, sliding her hand up. She pressed her index finger firmly against the center of his forehead, and a cold, golden magic surged from her fingertip, sinking deep into his skin. Kael didn't stir; instead, his head lolled slightly to the side, his consciousness locked in a void of d
The wooden bridge arched gently over a stream fed by the hills, the current dark and swift, gurgling as it rushed beneath the planks. Lanterns had been strung along the railing with obvious care, their warm orange light shimmering on the water's surface in rippling fragments of gold. And above the stream, fireflies floated in lazy spirals, their tiny glow pulsing in the darkness. Morvienne stopped at the edge of the bridge, her fingers resting on the worn wooden rail. She had never been here before. Kael stepped into the bridge, his boots landing softly on the planks. He moved to the railing and leaned against it, his back to the stream, facing her as the firelight caught the edges of his face, softening his features.Morvienne then walked up beside him, her arms folding loosely across the railing. She stared down at the rushing water, at the dancing reflections, at the fireflies trailing above. "You never came this far into the territory," Kael said quietly. Morvienne turned his
Later at midnight, the pack grounds were overflowing with life. One of the pack families had welcomed twins barely an hour earlier, and the news had spread through the territory faster than wildfire. The joyous news had been all the excuse anyone needed to celebrate, especially since the new father was one of the pack's warriors.Long wooden tables had been dragged outside beneath strings of glowing lanterns. Platters of roasted meats, their juices pooling in warm puddles beneath carved slices. There were bowls of ripe fruits—peaches, plums, berries, many more. Fresh bread, bottles of wine and honey liquor, their contents sloshing freely into any cup that lifted. The entire pack was alive and they breathed as one. The music was alive. Drums were played, flutes were blown, and laughter rippled through the crowd in waves while they clapped their hands and danced.Children darted through the crowd barefoot despite the damp grass, shrieking with laughter as they chased each other betwe
The door clicked shut behind her, and she stood in the hallway for a moment, her hand still on the handle, with her breath coming in short, uneven bursts. The tingling heat on her backside refused to fade, and she could still hear the ghost of Kael's laughter echoing in her ears. That man. She pushed off from the door and forced herself to walk—not run—toward the kitchen. The wooden tray in her hands wobbled slightly, the empty glass rattling against it, but she tightened her grip to steady it. Her footsteps were brisk but not quite dignified, her cheeks still burning like twin furnaces.When she finally reached the kitchen with no one in sight, she set the tray down on the counter with more force than necessary, though carefully enough not to let the glass fall.Immediately, she grabbed the glass and turned on the faucet. Cold water rushed over her fingers as she rinsed it, scrubbing at the rim with more aggression than the task required. Her mind, however, was not on the glass.
Kael waited for some seconds, watching her, the hallway silent around them, while she stared at the floor for a long, careful second, thinking it through. "Doesn't sound like a bad idea," she thought, then raised her head and nodded once, slowly.Right after, her mouth opened as if she wanted to a
Morvienne's whole body flinched as the shout hit both her and the room like a physical force. Her shoulders jerked up and her breath came out in a quick, uneven hitch as she stared at him, eyes wide and glassy.Then the fear registered. Her legs moved before her brain did, backward, then another.
For two days, Morvienne hadn't seen him.Instead, it was that same particular maid who came every morning and evening, smiling, polite, and cheerful. Breakfast, fresh clothes, light chatter about how the Alpha was busy. It was the same routine, every day.At first, she didn't mind. After all, pati
Forty-five minutes. She had forty-five minutes to execute her plan perfectly. The moment she opened the doors of the aquarium and the night air brushed against her face, something in her changed. It was subtle at first. Her shoulders slackened and she stepped forward slowly, almost like she







