ALEXANDER’S POV
I stood outside the double doors of the King’s study.
The summon had been unexpected. The air in the hallway felt too still and for some reason, I could tell this meeting will not go well.
I had no idea why. Was I just being paranoid?
I ran a hand down my face, forcing myself to breathe. I had no idea what the King wanted, only that he’d requested my presence urgently and alone.
The guards bowed their heads at me an pulled the heavy doors open.
I stepped into the room, immediately bowing my head. “Your Majesty.”
“Alexander,” the Lycan King greeted, rising from his seat with a rare smile. “Come in, come in. No need to be so stiff.”
I forced a small smile as I approached, “It’s an honor, as always, Your Majesty.”
He waved a dismissive hand and poured two glasses of wine, offering one to me. “Sit. Let’s talk.”
I
ALEXANDER’S POVI was staring down at the endless stack of reports in my office, trying and failing to concentrate. The ink on the page blurred together. My mind wasn’t in it— I was too tired.A sharp knock interrupted the silence. The door opened.“My prince,” said a guard, bowing low, “Forgive the intrusion. It’s your father. His hand… it twitched.”For a second, I just stared at him.“What?” I breathed.“His hand, my lord,” the guard repeated. “He moved it.”I was out of my seat before he’d even finished the sentence.My feet carried me faster than thought down the corridor, past startled servants and gasping nobles, down the halls that led to the King’s chambers. My heart beat loudly in my chest. Could it be…? After all this time?I shoved the doors open.“Aiden?” I called.The royal healer was already there, leaning over my father’s bed. His hands were filled with his tools and instruments. His apprentice hovered near with a basin and cloth.The king, my father lay still, but his
THIRD PERSON’S POVThe cell was cold. Damp.Isabella dangled from rusted chains bolted to a stone wall.Her arms were stretched above her head. Her wrists were bruised raw from struggling. Her once-elegant dress was torn at the seams, stained with dirt and dried blood.The only light came from the small window high on the wall.Her mind drifted in and out.She was still sleepy due to the sedative they’d used to take her. She remembered the trip to the market square, the colorful fabrics she chose. She went there to get her mind off Alexander’s rejection.All of a sudden, she saw a shadow pass.Then, she felt a hand on her mouth. A cloth to her mouth.She tried to scream but their screams were swallowed by nothingness.Now she was here, a prisoner of the Dune Kingdom. She was kidnapped by the Dune Kingdom’s werewolves.She couldn’t even remember how long she had been here. Weeks? Days? She had lost track of time.All she could focus on was the pain in her arms and the feeling of being
ELIZA’S POVThe next morning, Alexander and I strolled side by side through the garden. For once, the palace felt quiet. Peaceful.Alexander bumped my shoulder gently with his.“You’re walking too fast again.”I smirked. “And you’re too slow. I’m convinced your royal blood makes you allergic to actual effort.”He let out a soft laugh. “Effort is for people who have something to prove. I, Eliza, have already proven I can survive your endless critiques.”I turned toward him with mock offense, raising my brow. “Endless? I’ve barely begun.”“Oh gods,” he groaned, hand over his heart. “Save me from her tongue.”“That’s the same tongue that saved your life twice on the battlefield, Your Highness,” I shot back, grinning.“Fair point,” he said, tilting his head toward me. “Then I suppose I owe you another debt. Add it to the list.”He offered me his arm in that old-fashioned, courtly way he knew made me roll my eyes.Still, I took it and leaned into him. The world blurred slightly in that mom
ELIZA’S POVAs soon as we got back to his room, Alexander’s lips were on me like he couldn’t get enough. He kissed me deeply and passionately. I couldn’t help but melt into him.He tasted like fire. He tasted like everything sweet. I could get drunk on his kisses alone.My wolf purred in satisfaction. She had missed her mate so much. Right now, she was content.He held me close to him, holding my waist tightly.He grabbed my ass firmly as he basically shoved his tongue down my throat. His other hand gripped my breasts, fiddling with my nipples. I moaned into his mouth.I could feel the heat in my core get hotter with every second. I wanted him more than anything."I missed you so much," Alexander whispered against my lips.He grabbed my throat, making me gasp.Before I could even recover, he pushed me to the wall. I looked into his eyes and noticed that they had gone completely dark. His wolf had completely taken over. He wasn’t just Alexander anymore. His wolf had taken complete cont
ELIZA’S POVI stirred the soup slowly.It was quiet except for the sound of the kettle.Alexander insisted on being near me so, he laid on the couch in the living room right next to the kitchen.Every few minutes, I glanced over at him. He was half-asleep and he still had dark circles still under his eyes.Seeing him like that… it twisted something in my chest.He’d always been the strong one.The man who’d go through gunfire without flinching, who stood tall even when the world crumbled around him.And now, he was propped up on three pillows with a blanket tucked under his arms. His face was pale and his eyes were heavy with exhaustion.But he was here. He came back to me. That was all that mattered.“Smells like heaven,” Alexander murmured as I walked in with the tray.“You’d better mean that,” I said, setting it gently on the side table, “because I put actual effort into this. Herbs and all.”He chuckled, then winced. His hand moved instinctively to his ribs.“Laughing hurts,” he s
ELIZA’S POVThe palace halls of Alexander’s pack were colder than I remembered.I held Ryan’s hand tightly as I walked down the corridor.He walked beside me quietly, looking round the place. It seemed like he knew something was wrong. Dylan led us ahead in silence.His shoulders were stiff and his steps were a bit quicker than ours.My fingers tightened around Ryan’s as my mind started to spin. I remembered the memories.The moment I heard the council members talking about the engagement.The betrayal I felt.The conversation Alexander and I had.The aching silence when I left and he didn’t come after me.I felt sad. I felt humiliated.I couldn’t believe for a second that Alexander would choose Isabella over me.The heartbreak had been unbearable—shattering, even. My pride had been my shield all these months, but today, it felt paper-thin.Don’t do this, I told myself. You came for Ryan. You came to make sure Alexander survives.And yet my wolf stirred. I could feel her claws draggin