The Woman He Never Saw

The palace had never been this quiet. Ross walked through the main entrance with her head held high. Only yesterday, she had entered this palace as the wolf-less wife everyone pitied.

Today, every person she passed lowered their head.

“Your Majesty.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Your Majesty.”

The words followed her down the marble corridor. Ross didn't stop. She didn't smile. She didn't acknowledge the people who had suddenly discovered respect.

Two days ago, the same servants had whispered behind her back.

Defective.

Wolf-less.

Weak.

A useless Luna.

Some had even laughed when she walked past. Now they couldn't look directly into her eyes. And she knew the reason. They weren't respecting her. They were afraid of her. But why does realization make her sadder than their insults ever had?

Behind her, Alpha Knox walked silently. He watched everything. A maid who had once deliberately bumped Ross's shoulder nearly fell to her knees when Ross passed. A warrior who had once called her a useless Luna lowered his head so quickly that Knox could see fear in his eyes. Several nobles abandoned their conversations the moment Ross entered the hall.

They rushed toward her. “Your Majesty, it would be an honor to speak with you.”

“Your Majesty, my family has always supported your bloodline.”

“My Queen, perhaps we could discuss—”

Ross continued walking. She didn't give them a single word.

Knox noticed everything and something inside his chest tightened. He remembered. He remembered every insult he threw at her. Every time Ross stood alone. Every time someone humiliated her while he watched. He remembered the dinner when wine had been thrown over her dress. He had seen it. He remembered the hallway where two warriors had pushed her against the wall. He had walked past. He remembered telling her that if she couldn't defend herself, she shouldn't expect anyone else to defend her. He remembered telling her that he had only married her because her father was politically useful.

And suddenly, the words sounded different. Crueler. Ugly. He had believed he was speaking to a weak woman. But she had never even been weak. She had simply never needed to prove anything to him.

Knox stopped walking as Ross continued to trail down toward the royal wing.

“Your Majesty,” one of the council members called desperately. Ross finally stopped. The man hurried toward her. “We would like to discuss the northern territories. “You may submit the documents to my secretary.”

“But Your Majesty—”

“That is all.”

The man immediately bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Ross continued walking. Knox watched her disappear around the corner. He somehow

felt like a stranger in his own home.

---

By evening, the palace had transformed. Ross's chambers were filled with flowers. Gifts arrived every few minutes. Nobles sent letters. Alphas sent messages. Even families who had previously ignored her suddenly wanted invitations to royal dinners.

Ross ordered every gift removed. She sat beside the window, reading quietly. There was a knock. “Come in.”

Beta Nash stepped inside carrying two plates. “I brought food.”

Ross looked up.“You're not afraid of me?”

Nash placed one plate in front of her. “Terrified.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Absolutely.” He sat down. “I've been terrified since the day I realized you could make Knox kneel. I simply hide my fear behind humor because I have excellent survival instincts.”

Ross laughed while he smiled. She could clearly see no fear in his expression. Only the same warmth he had always shown her. “You haven't changed,” Ross said quietly.

“Why would I?”

“You know who I am now.”

Nash shrugged. “You're still Ross.”

Her smile softened. That was the first time all day someone had said her name without a title.

“Thank you, Nash.”

He pointed at her food. “Eat.”

She laughed again.

Meanwhile Knox who had come looking for Ross stood outside the corridor watching them. His jaw tightened as he watched giggling. Jealousy.

He immediately pushed it away. He had no right to feel jealous. Not after everything he had done. Not after spending two years making Ross believe she was unwanted. Knox turned away. But he stopped after only a few steps. He looked back at her door.

The woman laughing inside was the same woman he had ignored for two years. The same woman he had called defective. The same woman he had assumed needed him. How had he never seen her?

---

Later that night, Ross stood before the mirror. She removed the royal crown from her head. For years, she had wondered what it would feel like to be respected when she finally revealed who she actually was.

Now she could feel it. And somehow, she felt emptier than before.

Just then, a soft knock sounded, bringing her out of her thoughts. She knew who it was. “Come in.”

The door opened. Knox stepped inside. He closed it behind him. For several seconds, neither spoke. He looked at her. Really looked at her. Not as the daughter of a politically useful Alpha. Not as his wolf-less wife. Not as the weak woman he had spent two years despising.

He looked at her as a woman. A Queen. His Queen.

Ross noticed his silence. “What do you want?”

Knox swallowed. “I wanted to talk.”

“You've had two years to talk.”

His expression tightened. “I know.”

Ross turned toward the window. “Then say what you came to say.”

Knox took a step forward. “I was wrong.”

Ross gave a quiet laugh. “That is a very small sentence for two years of cruelty.”

“I know.”

“You don't get to erase it because you discovered who I am.”

“I don't want to erase it.”

She turned to him. “Then why are you here?”

Knox looked into her eyes. Because for the first time, he was afraid. Was it for her power? No. For losing her? Yes. “I don't know how to fix what I did.”

Ross stared at him. Then she spoke softly. “You can't.”

She walked toward the door. Knox's eyes followed her. She opened it. “You don't belong here anymore.”

Knox frowned. “It's my palace.”

Ross looked over her shoulder. A faint smile touched her lips. “Not anymore.”

The door closed between them. Knox stood alone in the corridor. As an Alpha King for years, he had no answer but he understood something terrifying. He had spent two years teaching Ross that she didn't belong beside him. Now she has finally believed him and why does it hurt now that she believes him?