chapter 21

Silence settled over the room.

The assassin's lifeless body lay sprawled across the marble floor while the shattered windows allowed the cold night breeze to sweep through the chamber.

No one moved.

No one spoke.

Elsie's eyes never left Rowan.

She could still picture them.

Those golden eyes.

For a brief moment, they hadn't belonged to the man she'd come to know over the past few weeks.

They had belonged to something...

Ancient.

Powerful.

Terrifying.

"...Your eyes," she whispered again.

"They changed."

Rowan's hand was still wrapped gently around hers.

He looked into her eyes, searching for fear.

Instead, all he found was confusion.

Curiosity.

Concern.

"My Alpha."

Frank's voice broke the silence.

"The palace must be secured."

Rowan didn't look away from Elsie.

"Take the body."

"Search every entrance."

"No one leaves the palace until I give the order."

"Yes, Alpha."

Within moments, guards flooded into the room, carrying away the assassin while servants hurried to clean the broken furniture.

Rose rushed inside, tears already filling her eyes.

"My Luna!"

She threw her arms around Elsie.

"I thought..."

"I thought..."

Elsie gently hugged her back.

"I'm alright."

Rose looked toward Rowan before lowering her head respectfully.

"Thank you, my Alpha."

Rowan simply nodded.

"Escort the Luna to her chambers."

Rose blinked.

"My Alpha?"

"I'll join her shortly."

Rose understood immediately.

He wanted to speak with Elsie alone.

Half an hour later...

Elsie stood quietly on the balcony of her room.

The cold Nightcrest wind played with her hair as she stared at the moon hanging high above the mountains.

She heard the door open behind her.

She didn't turn.

"I was wondering when you'd come."

Rowan walked onto the balcony beside her.

For several moments, neither of them spoke.

Finally...

"You have questions."

Elsie smiled faintly.

"Several."

"You deserve answers."

She turned to face him.

"Then answer one."

He nodded.

"Were those..."

She hesitated.

"...really your eyes?"

"Yes."

"No illusion?"

"No."

She studied him carefully.

"What are you?"

Rowan's expression became unreadable.

"I was hoping you wouldn't ask that tonight."

Elsie looked away.

"You don't have to answer if you don't trust me."

"I trust you."

"Then why hide it?"

He exhaled slowly.

"Because knowing the truth puts you in danger."

She frowned.

"I'm already in danger."

"You became the target the moment you married me."

His words settled heavily between them.

Elsie looked down at the palace courtyard below.

"So..."

"The assassin wasn't after me."

"No."

"He came because of you."

Rowan remained silent.

That silence answered everything.

"You should hate me."

Elsie's head snapped toward him.

"What?"

"I brought you into this."

He looked genuinely remorseful.

"You lost your family."

"You left your home."

"And now people are trying to kill you because you're my wife."

For the first time...

Elsie saw guilt in Rowan's eyes.

Real guilt.

She couldn't understand it.

This man was feared across the continent.

Kings sought his alliances.

Enemies trembled at his name.

Yet here he stood...

Feeling guilty because she was in danger.

"You didn't force me to marry you."

"No."

"You gave me a choice."

"Yes."

"And I accepted."

She took one small step toward him.

"So stop blaming yourself."

Rowan stared at her.

"You surprise me."

"Why?"

"I expected anger."

She laughed quietly.

"I have enough people to blame."

"And you're not one of them."

Something softened inside Rowan.

A wall he'd carefully built around himself cracked just a little.

The next morning...

The assassination attempt had already spread throughout Nightcrest.

Every servant whispered about it.

Every warrior tightened security.

Every noble demanded answers.

Elsie noticed something else too.

Everywhere she walked...

People bowed more deeply than before.

Rose noticed it immediately.

"They're respecting you."

Elsie looked confused.

"They already respected the Luna."

Rose shook her head.

"No."

"Yesterday they respected your title."

She smiled.

"Today..."

"They respect your courage."

Elsie blinked.

"My courage?"

"You never screamed."

"You never begged."

"You stood before an assassin without collapsing."

Rose laughed softly.

"The palace has been talking about nothing else."

Elsie smiled awkwardly.

"I was terrified."

"Only because you're honest."

Meanwhile...

Jessica sat inside her private chambers, listening as one of her maids repeated every rumor spreading through the palace.

"So..."

Jessica said quietly.

"The Alpha carried her himself after the attack?"

"Yes."

"And he stayed with her afterward?"

"That's what everyone says."

Jessica clenched the porcelain teacup in her hand.

It shattered.

Hot tea spilled across the table.

The maid immediately fell to her knees.

"My lady!"

Jessica didn't hear her.

She was too busy replaying the image she'd witnessed the previous evening.

Rowan.

Looking at Elsie with concern.

Protectiveness.

Affection.

Emotions he'd never once shown...

To her.

"I've waited five years..."

Jessica whispered bitterly.

"I stood beside him through wars."

"I cared for this palace."

"I earned everyone's respect."

Her breathing became uneven.

"And she steals his heart in a few weeks?"

Her eyes slowly darkened.

"No."

She stood.

"If Rowan won't send her away..."

A dangerous smile spread across her lips.

"...perhaps I'll make the Luna leave on her own."

That evening...

Frank knocked on Rowan's office door.

"My Alpha."

"Enter."

Frank placed a sealed letter on the desk.

"It arrived from Bloom Pack."

Rowan immediately recognized the royal seal.

Edward.

He broke the seal and unfolded the letter.

His expression slowly hardened as he read.

Frank frowned.

"Bad news?"

Rowan folded the letter carefully.

"Edward wants to visit Nightcrest."

Frank's eyebrows shot up.

"For what reason?"

Rowan looked toward the window.

Beyond it, Elsie could be seen laughing softly with Rose in the gardens below.

His jaw tightened.

"The letter doesn't say."

He knew one thing for certain.

Edward wasn't coming for politics.

He was coming...

For Elsie.