เข้าสู่ระบบRiley’s POVMy lungs froze. I forgot how to breathe.I stood completely still, trapped against Ezra's hard chest. His large hand was still wrapped securely around my upper arm, his grip firm but not painful. I kept my head down, letting the deep shadows of my gray hood and the thick wool scarf hide my entire face.Behind me, I heard Axel’s heavy boots scrape against the stone.Axel wasn't stupid. The moment he felt the terrifying, crushing pressure of the Lycan King, he immediately stopped in his tracks and stepped back into the pitch-black shadows of the alley.“What’s happening here?” Ezra repeated his question, his voice cold."It's nothing," Axel said. He forcefully lowered his voice, making it sound rough and muffled so Ezra wouldn't recognize him. "We were just having a normal argument. She slipped on the ice."Ezra didn't look at him. His piercing green eyes remained fixed on the top of my hood. I could feel his gaze burning into me. I knew he had a terrifying sense of smell, b
Riley’s POVA wave of suffocating pain crushed my chest, making it hard to even breathe.I stood in the dark shadow of the alley, watching the bright bonfire in the square. My eyes were locked on the beautiful blonde girl laughing next to Ezra.Was this the girl he fell in love with? Was she the reason he traveled all the way through the freezing mountains? Did he come here to reject me just so he could be with her?"Riley, let's go. Now," Axel’s voice was rough and tight. He didn't give me a chance to answer. He grabbed my arm, his grip completely iron-clad, and pulled me forcefully away from the square.I didn't fight him. I let him drag me back into the dark, quiet streets. My mind was completely numb. We stopped at a small, hidden food stall on the edge of the village, bought some hot soup and bread, and hurried back to our cold stone cabin.We ate in total silence. I couldn't taste the food. Every bite felt like chewing on dry sand. Axel kept shooting me worried, heavy looks, but
Riley’s POVI cried until my throat was raw and my chest ached with every breath.Axel didn't say a single word. He just stood there in the freezing snow, holding me tight against his warm chest, letting me soak his shirt with my tears. The bitter mountain wind howled through the pine trees, but inside his arms, I felt shielded from the ice.Slowly, the heavy sobs shaking my body began to fade. I sniffled, wiping my swollen eyes with the back of my cold hand, and gently pulled back from his chest."I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice sounding rough and broken. "I got your shirt all wet."Axel let out a soft sigh, reaching up to pull my gray hood perfectly over my head to block the wind. "Don't apologize to me, Riley. Never apologize for crying. Tell me what happened in that courtyard. What did the Priestess say?"I swallowed the bitter lump in my throat, staring past him at the frozen lake. The dark, icy water looked exactly like how I felt inside—cold, still, and completely dead."The
Riley’s POVMy heart hammered wildly against my ribs."Shit," I gasped under my breath. I quickly grabbed the Priestess's white sleeve with both of my hands. "Please, can you hide me somewhere? He can’t see me here."The Priestess looked at my terrified face, then glanced at the courtyard gates where the royal guards were marching in. She looked torn, but the fear in my eyes made her soften."Behind the altar," she whispered quickly, pointing a bony finger toward a heavy white silk curtain hanging near the base of the sacred Laurel tree. "Stay quiet. Do not let out a single breath."I didn't waste a second. I pulled my cloak tight, darted across the smooth marble, and slipped into the narrow shadow behind the thick curtain.Through a tiny gap in the silk fabric, I had a clear view of the entire courtyard.The heavy oak doors opened wide, and Ezra stepped into the moonlit yard.He wore a long, dark velvet coat lined with black fur, his broad shoulders cutting through the freezing mist.
Riley’s POVI crouched behind a thick pine bush, pressing my back flat against the cold, damp earth. The chilly mountain wind whipped through the trees, but the heat of absolute panic was burning inside my chest.Down in the small valley below our hill, Ezra’s guards had set up an highly organized campsite for the night.Dozens of heavy silver-armored knights stood in a strict circle around the perimeter, their hands resting on the hilts of their long swords, their eyes scanning the dark woods with sharp, lethal focus. The atmosphere down there was ironclad, cold, and dead serious. Nobody was talking or laughing. It was pure military discipline.And right in the center of that grand camp, sitting on a smooth stone near a crackling campfire, was Ezra.My breath caught in my throat. I couldn't tear my eyes away from him.Ezra had thrown his heavy black travel cloak over his shoulders to shield against the mountain chill. The warm, golden light of the campfire flickered across his face,
Riley’s POVHe’s getting married.The words echoed in my head over and over again, sharp and deafening, like a bell chiming inside an empty room.I stood frozen on the busy sidewalk as the cheering crowd moved around me. My heart felt hollow, carved out by a dull, throbbing pain that reached all the way to my bones. Axel was right. Ezra hadn't been waiting for me. He hadn't been mourning the girl who ran away three years ago. He was a King now, moving on with his glorious life, preparing to place a crown on the head of some beautiful, perfect noble she-wolf. Whoever that was.It’s fine, I told myself, biting the inside of my cheek until I tasted copper. This is what you wanted. You came here to break the bond anyway. His life has nothing to do with you anymore."Riley," Axel’s deep voice cut through the noise. His warm hand rested gently on my shoulder through my gray cloak, pulling me back from the edge of my spiraling thoughts. "We need to keep moving before the street patrol closes
Riley’s POVMy eyes widened a little, stunned.I never thought that warrior would pick me as his opponent.Not because I was scared of him. But warriors and healers aren’t even on the same playing field when it comes to strength or combat skills.Like Danica once said, healers are usually protected
Riley’s POVWhat?I could barely believe what I just heard.Ms. Bright just said I was in Ezra’s team?But that couldn’t be right. Something’s wrong!For a second, the entire field was completely silent. Then chaos erupted. Everyone started whispering to each other, some girls even screamed. Everyo
Riley’s POVOlivia’s face went white.“N-No! Wait—” she shrieked as two of Ezra’s men strode toward her.They didn’t hesitate for even a second. One grabbed her by the arm. The other reached for her shoulder like they really meant to drag her all the way back to the blasted camp and toss her into t
Riley’s POVCamila’s alliance took a brutal hit.Even from the ridge, I could tell they were finished for the day. The ones who managed to escape were half-dragging, half-carrying each other through the trees. Some were limping. Some were bleeding so badly their clothes were soaked dark.And right







