chapter 26

Edward remained hidden behind the curtain long after Rowan and Elsie had left the balcony.

His fingers slowly loosened around the edge of the fabric as his shoulders slumped.

He had seen enough.

There had been no hesitation in the kiss.

No uncertainty.

No pity.

Elsie had kissed Rowan because she wanted to.

The realization settled over him like a crushing weight.

He lowered his head and laughed bitterly.

"So this..."

"...is what regret feels like."

For the first time since rejecting Elsie, Edward understood that he had not simply lost his mate.

He had lost the only woman who had ever loved him without expecting anything in return.

And now...

She was learning to love someone else.

Back on the balcony, Rowan reluctantly pulled away.

Neither of them spoke.

Elsie's cheeks glowed pink beneath the moonlight, and she suddenly became fascinated by the stone floor beneath her feet.

"I..."

She smiled nervously.

"I think I should go."

Rowan chuckled quietly.

"You've become very interesting all of a sudden."

"I have not."

"You can't even look at me."

Her blush deepened.

"That's because..."

She sighed dramatically.

"...you're making this very difficult."

He stepped closer.

"I'll stop."

"You promise?"

"No."

She looked up in disbelief.

"You are impossible."

"And yet..."

His silver eyes sparkled with amusement.

"...you kissed me."

Elsie covered her face with both hands.

"I regret saying anything."

"You regret kissing me?"

She quickly lowered her hands.

"No!"

The answer came far too quickly.

Both of them froze.

Rowan's smile widened.

"I see."

Elsie groaned softly.

"I walked right into that one."

"You certainly did."

For the first time in years...

Rowan laughed.

Not the quiet chuckle she had heard during their journey.

A real laugh.

Deep.

Warm.

The sound surprised even him.

Elsie stared for a moment before smiling.

"I like hearing you laugh."

His laughter faded as he looked at her.

"Then I'll give you more reasons to hear it."

Her heart fluttered.

The following morning, the palace was unusually lively.

News of the successful banquet had spread throughout Nightcrest, and many of the nobles remained at the palace for another day.

Elsie and Rose walked through the eastern gardens together.

"I've never seen Alpha Rowan smile so much," Rose admitted.

"Really?"

Rose nodded enthusiastically.

"The servants have been talking."

Elsie looked embarrassed.

"They shouldn't gossip."

"They're not gossiping."

Rose grinned.

"They're celebrating."

"Celebrating?"

"They've wanted their Alpha to find happiness for years."

Elsie slowed her steps.

"Happiness..."

She whispered the word to herself.

Could she really make Rowan happy?

Before she could think further, a familiar voice interrupted.

"Lady Elsie."

She turned.

Sara stood several feet away.

Alone.

Rose immediately bowed.

"I'll wait over there, my Luna."

Once Rose had walked away, silence settled between the sisters.

Sara nervously twisted her fingers together.

"You look well."

Elsie smiled politely.

"So do you."

Another awkward silence followed.

Finally, Sara spoke.

"I owe you an apology."

Elsie looked at her quietly.

"I know saying sorry won't change anything."

"It won't."

Sara nodded sadly.

"I never meant to hurt you."

Elsie let out a slow breath.

"I believe you."

Sara blinked.

"You do?"

"I believe you didn't intend to."

She met her sister's eyes.

"But you still did."

Tears immediately filled Sara's eyes.

"I loved him."

"I know."

"I still do."

"I know."

Sara wiped away a tear.

"I thought..."

She laughed bitterly.

"...I thought if Edward chose me, I'd finally stop feeling guilty."

"Guilty?"

"For always being compared to you."

Elsie frowned.

"What?"

Sara smiled sadly.

"You never noticed."

"Mother always praised your kindness."

"Father admired your patience."

"The elders respected your intelligence."

"I was always..."

She looked away.

"...just the prettier sister."

Elsie stood speechless.

She had never imagined Sara felt that way.

"I spent years trying to prove I was enough."

Sara whispered.

"And when Edward loved me..."

"I held onto him."

"Even when I knew it would destroy you."

A tear rolled down Elsie's cheek.

Not because she was hurt.

Because, for the first time...

She understood.

The sisters had both been victims.

Just in different ways.

Elsie stepped forward.

Without saying a word...

She gently hugged Sara.

Sara froze before bursting into tears.

"I'm sorry."

She sobbed.

"I'm so sorry."

Elsie closed her eyes.

"I'm trying to forgive you."

It wasn't forgiveness yet.

But it was a beginning.

From the second-floor balcony...

Jessica watched the sisters embrace.

Her expression twisted with annoyance.

"How pathetic."

She turned toward the cloaked man standing behind her.

"I told you to create division."

"They're reconciling instead."

The man lowered his head.

"It won't happen again."

Jessica's eyes narrowed.

"It had better not."

She looked toward Elsie.

"If I can't turn her family against her..."

A cruel smile spread across her lips.

"...I'll make Nightcrest reject her instead."

That afternoon, Rowan summoned Frank to his study.

"What have we learned about the assassin?"

Frank placed several documents on the desk.

"He wasn't a rogue."

Rowan's expression hardened.

"I suspected as much."

Frank nodded.

"We finally identified the tattoo on his wrist."

Rowan looked up.

"And?"

Frank's face grew grim.

"It belongs to an organization called..."

"The Crimson Fang."

Silence filled the room.

Even Rowan's calm expression faltered slightly.

"They still exist?"

"So it seems."

Frank lowered his voice.

"My Alpha..."

"The Crimson Fang doesn't accept ordinary contracts."

"They only hunt..."

He paused.

"...people connected to the ancient prophecy."

Rowan slowly looked toward the window.

Toward the gardens where Elsie was laughing softly with Rose and Sara.

His heart sank.

Because if the Crimson Fang had targeted Elsie...

Then it meant someone already knew the truth.

And if they knew...

It was only a matter of time before the rest of the werewolf world learned what his Luna truly was.