chapter 19

Shadows Beneath the Moon........

The faint warmth of Rowan's kiss lingered on Elsie's forehead long after he had left.

She sat motionless before her vanity, her fingertips unconsciously brushing the same spot over and over again.

It had only been a kiss on the forehead.

Nothing more.

Yet somehow...

It had stirred something inside her that she could no longer deny.

The loneliness she had felt over the past week had eased, even if only a little.

For the first time after arguing with Rowan, she slept peacefully.

The next morning, Rose helped Elsie dress in a simple sapphire-blue gown embroidered with silver thread.

"My Luna," Rose said with a smile as she adjusted the sleeves, "you look beautiful."

Elsie smiled politely.

"Thank you."

Just then, a maid entered carrying a breakfast tray.

"My Luna, Alpha Rowan requested this be served in the garden."

Elsie's eyes brightened almost imperceptibly.

"He remembered..."

Rose smiled knowingly.

"The Alpha always keeps his word."

The palace gardens were breathtaking in the morning.

Unlike Bloom Pack, Nightcrest's gardens weren't filled with bright flowers.

Instead, towering silver-leaf trees surrounded crystal ponds while black roses bloomed beneath them. Small white flowers covered the pathways like stars scattered across the ground.

Everything felt calm.

Peaceful.

Rowan was already seated beneath a pavilion when Elsie arrived.

He looked up from the documents in his hand.

"You came."

"You asked me to."

"I wasn't certain you would."

Elsie sat opposite him.

"For someone feared by an entire kingdom, you're surprisingly uncertain."

The corner of Rowan's lips lifted.

"Only where you're concerned."

Rose and the servants quietly served breakfast before excusing themselves.

For several minutes, they simply ate.

It wasn't awkward anymore.

It felt...

Comfortable.

"So," Rowan said eventually.

"How are you adjusting?"

Elsie glanced around the gardens.

"It's different."

"In a bad way?"

She shook her head.

"No."

Her gaze drifted toward the mountains surrounding the estate.

"It's quieter."

"The silence bothers you?"

"It comforts me."

Rowan nodded slowly.

"Good."

She looked back at him.

"I expected Nightcrest to be..."

She searched for the right word.

"Terrifying?"

Elsie laughed softly.

"I wasn't going to say that."

"You were thinking it."

She smiled sheepishly.

"Maybe."

"And now?"

She looked around again.

"I think people were wrong."

"About Nightcrest?"

"About you."

For a moment, Rowan simply watched her.

There was something in his eyes she couldn't quite understand.

Something warm.

Something relieved.

Their peaceful breakfast was interrupted by hurried footsteps.

Frank appeared at the entrance of the pavilion.

"My Alpha."

Rowan immediately recognized the urgency.

"What happened?"

"A prisoner has escaped."

His expression darkened.

"Who?"

"The rogue captured three days ago."

Frank lowered his voice.

"Our guards found two sentries unconscious."

Rowan stood immediately.

"I'll handle it."

Frank nodded.

Then his gaze shifted briefly toward Elsie.

"My Luna."

Before leaving, Rowan turned to Elsie.

"I'm sorry."

"You don't need to apologize."

"I'll make it up to you."

She smiled faintly.

"You have an entire lifetime."

The words slipped out before she could stop them.

Both of them froze.

Elsie's cheeks immediately flushed.

"I didn't mean—"

"I know what you meant."

His voice was unusually gentle.

"I look forward to it."

Then he left.

Jessica watched everything from the palace balcony.

Her nails dug into the railing until her knuckles turned white.

"So..."

she whispered bitterly.

"He smiles now."

A maid standing nearby remained silent.

Jessica laughed bitterly.

"I've served him faithfully for years."

She looked toward the gardens where Elsie still sat alone.

"And she arrives only weeks ago..."

The bitterness in her voice deepened.

"...yet he looks at her the way I always wished he'd look at me."

Her eyes narrowed.

"No."

"I won't lose this easily."

The rest of the day dragged by for Elsie.

She tried reading.

She couldn't focus.

She wandered through the gardens.

Everything reminded her of breakfast.

She even found herself glancing toward the palace entrance whenever footsteps echoed through the halls.

It was ridiculous.

She barely knew the man.

Yet she found herself waiting for him.

That evening, Rowan finally returned.

His black shirt was stained with dust and dried blood.

Not his own.

Elsie stood immediately.

"You're hurt."

"I'm not."

She frowned.

"There's blood."

"Someone else's."

Only then did she notice the exhaustion on his face.

Without thinking, she stepped closer.

"You should sit."

Rowan raised an eyebrow.

"Is that an order from my Luna?"

"It's... a suggestion."

"A wise one."

He sat.

Rose quietly entered carrying warm water before leaving again.

Elsie picked up the cloth.

Rowan watched curiously.

"What are you doing?"

"Cleaning your face."

"You don't have to."

"I know."

She gently wiped a streak of dirt from his cheek.

Neither of them spoke.

The room felt strangely quiet.

Comfortable.

Safe.

When she finished, Rowan caught her wrist gently.

"Thank you."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

Their eyes met.

Again.

The distance between them slowly disappeared.

Elsie's heart beat faster.

She knew what was about to happen.

This time...

She didn't pull away.

Their lips met softly.

Gentler than before.

No urgency.

No hesitation.

Just warmth.

Just comfort.

When they finally separated, Rowan rested his forehead against hers.

"I missed you today."

The confession was so quiet she almost thought she imagined it.

But she hadn't.

Because she felt the same.

Before Elsie could answer, a sudden scream echoed through the palace.

"My Luna!"

Rose's frightened voice rang through the corridor.

"The prisoner..."

Her voice trembled.

"He's inside the palace!"

Rowan was already on his feet, every trace of tenderness gone as the Alpha within him took over.

He stepped in front of Elsie instinctively, shielding her with his body.

The warmth of the moment vanished.

Outside the chamber doors...

Heavy footsteps echoed closer.

Someone was coming.