LOGINYoren stood before a tall mirror that reflected his full figure: upright, disciplined and seemingly unshakable. The desk behind him was neatly arranged with several travel documents, a half-rolled map of Helvarn’s territory and a long, dark coat that he would wear for his departure in two days' time.
Fifteen days was no short time. The reality of it seeped into the quiet of the room, accompanied by the faint rustle of fabric and the carefully controlled rhythm of his breathing.
First darkness, then a faint light. The emptiness slowly began to fill with an undefined presence.Eirene felt as though she were floating between two worlds, not quite asleep and not quite awake. Her body felt weightless, while her head felt empty, as though it were a vast, wall-less space.A question drifted through her mind: What happened?She tried to move her fingers. The first sensation she experienced was a soft touch beneath her palm, like smooth, delicate fabric. A sense of peace washed over her, allowing her to breathe freely. An unfamiliar yet familiar, warm and calming scent brushed against her senses.Eirene’s eyes slowly opened. Her vision was still blurred, but she could make out dim shadows of light, a ceiling with fine carvings and the silhouette of someone sitting nearby. Her heart began to beat a little faster. The Alpha? Impossible.Eirene’s thoughts were not yet clear. She wasn't even sure whether she was truly awake or still trapped in the remnants of a dream.Th
Yoren glanced at his wristwatch. He had three more hours before he had to depart. He should have started preparing by now. Yet he did not move.The pulse from the pendant had calmed. Colour had gradually returned to Eirene’s face. But the unrest in Yoren’s chest had not eased.A faint tremor stirred in the air. A soft groan broke the silence.Yoren straightened up immediately. “Eirene?”Eirene eacted. Her brows furrowed. Her lashes fluttered gently before her eyes slowly opened.Yoren waited, tense. He was eager to check her condition, but chose to remain still for a moment. He gave her time to gather herself. What he did not expect was that the first thing Eirene became aware of was him.Eirene called to him in a faint voice, almost a whisper. “Alpha?”Yoren moved closer, his chair scraping softly against the floor. “How do you feel? Are you in any discomfort?”Eirene did not ans
The study was filled with afternoon light streaming through the tall windows on the west-facing side. The sky was changing colour from pale blue to a warm golden hue, which was reflected off the large wooden desk in the centre of the room.Yoren stood near the desk with both hands braced against its surface, leaning slightly forward. Fabrizio stood across from him, holding several documents and a slim tablet displaying their travel schedule.“Departure is at two in the morning,” said Fabrizio. “We'll have a brief transit before continuing the journey. The main meeting is scheduled for two days after arrival.”Yoren gave a short nod. “Security?”‘It’s been coordinated,” Fabrizio replied succinctly. “The core team will depart with us. The rest will follow a day later.”Yoren offered no comment, then shifted to another matter. “Have you coordinated local affairs here with Naomi?&r
The television in the living room had been on for an hour, but Eirene had stopped paying much attention to it fifteen minutes ago. She was sprawled lazily on the long sofa, with her back against the cushioned backrest, one leg folded and the other dangling towards the floor.On the screen, the host spoke with exaggerated enthusiasm about topics that Eirene did not fully understand: winter trends, celebrity gossip and things that felt far removed from her life. The voice had become background noise; it was no longer something she was truly listening to.Over the past few days, Eirene’s mind had felt too preoccupied with more important matters to pay attention to trivial things. She tried to calm herself with small routines—watching television, reading and taking short walks in the backyard—but everything felt half-hearted.A soft knock at the door disrupted her thoughts. She shifted her gaze. “Come in.”Kyla appeared from behind the door, looking as calm, composed and unreadable as eve
Yoren stood before a tall mirror that reflected his full figure: upright, disciplined and seemingly unshakable. The desk behind him was neatly arranged with several travel documents, a half-rolled map of Helvarn’s territory and a long, dark coat that he would wear for his departure in two days' time.Fifteen days was no short time. The reality of it seeped into the quiet of the room, accompanied by the faint rustle of fabric and the carefully controlled rhythm of his breathing.Yoren fastened his cufflinks slowly. Then, without realising it, his hand paused midway. His fingers brushed against something cool resting against his chest: a small pendant hidden beneath his shirt, a necklace Eirene had given him.For the past few days, Yoren had been wearing the necklace without giving it much thought. He had put it on as if it were merely part of his routine, as though it meant nothing at all.He lowered his head slightly. The lamplight reflected off its
The blanket had slipped halfway off and was tangled between them as they leaned against each other. Dim afternoon light slipped through the gap in the curtains and cast soft shadows on the narrow bedroom walls, warming them both.Daisy closed her eyes. Her cheek rested against Bradley’s chest. In this position, she could hear his steady, slow heartbeat—something she had longed for all this time without realising it.It had been a long time since they had been like this, without arguments, raised voices or sharp glances that wounded each other. They were simply quiet and at peace.Bradley gently stroked Daisy’s hair. His movements were unhurried, as if he too was adjusting to this unfamiliar yet familiar atmosphere. “It’s been a long time since we were like this,” he murmured softly.Daisy did not respond right away. Instead, she shifted her body slightly, searching for a more comfortable position in his embrace. “







