LOGINELENA'S POV, The room they had given me to wait in was small by palace standards, which still made it larger than most rooms I had lived in during the years between then and now. Someone had placed flowers on the narrow table by the window, white ones, and I didn't know whether that was intentiona
RYAN'S POV, “Ollie needs stability,” he said, leaning back on his chair. “She's been patient, she's always been too patient for a child her age, and I've been asking her to share me with an entire nation for years.” He paused, turning the pen in his hand slowly, like he was still working out how to
ELENA'S POV, “Support the Queen,” he said, and the way both of them were talking through their eyes, it made me shake my head in embarrassment. “I have control over both of the packs. I will be their new Alpha, and after that, I will ensure that the packs publicly come forward in your support, wit
ELENA'S POV, Three weeks had passed, and I was still learning the weight of the crown. Not the physical one, that stays in a glass case in the east wing and comes out only for the formal occasions, like coronations or state dinners. The other kind, the kind that lived in every decision made befor
ELENA'S POV, “He's right, I declined the throne,” Andrew said without trying to play nice with his father. “It was never what I wanted and you know that. It was what you wanted for me, and you destroyed my life for that.” Something moved across the King's face that was both complicated and painful, but not in the parental way. It was something more that neither of them wanted to word out. I felt the guilt and shame taking over his heart, replacing the anger that was residing there before. It was not something I was going to look away from, because it was real, and real things deserved to be witnessed even when they were uncomfortable. “Andrew—” “The people have seen the broadcast,” Andrew said, holding back the tears from spilling. “Everything that had happened—the meeting, the attack, Georgina, the noble families, the framing. And they've seen Elena become what she is.” He paused for a second. “It's over, father. Not because we say so. Because people want the same. You have to sto
RYAN'S POV, “They came out on the street for you,” Ryan said to me, watching the road ahead. “At this hour. They came out to show their support. Knowing well that the noble families still control the Kingdom, and they might get punished for it.” I didn't answer him, because I didn't have words to explain what I was feeling. My emotions were heightened and I was able to feel that tiny bit of hope in their heart, buried beneath layers of anger, frustration and hunger. I just watched the faces moving past the window and let the weight of it land where it needed to land. I was feeling everything they were feeling, and I knew the noble families needed to be stopped. By the time we crossed the outer gates of the palace, they were already breached. The first unit had moved cleanly through the palace, without facing any major problems. From what Hunter mentioned over the radio, the outer guards offered less resistance than they had been planning for. Half of them had watched the broadcas
“Elena…” My voice cracked, and my hand went out in her direction, trembling. “Did you ever—”But I didn’t get the chance to finish my sentence because Ryan was there. He stepped in front of her, like a shield. Like she needed protecting—from me, her husband, and mate. His arm brushed against hers, a
My hand didn’t tremble as I picked up the pen. I didn’t hesitate. With a swift stroke, I signed my name, sealing the end of everything Julian and I had ever been.“Your turn, Alpha Julian,” the old man reminded him. “Sign the papers.”Julian didn’t move. He sat stiff, trembling with anger, and shaki
My wolf growled inside me even before I could respond to him. She was heartbroken and furious about his betrayal. We had once ached for him, ignoring all his flaws and mistakes because we loved him blindly. We convinced ourselves that no one is perfect, and at least he loved us with all his heart, b
“Stay out of this, President Ryan. This is our family matter and doesn't concern you.” I wasn't in the mood to talk to him, yet I had to because he was glued to Elena.“She isn't your family anymore... I am her family.”I turned to face Elena, to see her reaction, to see her telling him that he was







