Mag-log in"Father..." Leo whispered, the word barely audible as it slipped from his trembling lips.But Kael had already stepped outside the chamber.Without turning back.Without offering comfort.Without sparing even a glance at the son he had just shattered.The heavy chamber doors closed with a dull thud, and the sound echoed through the silent room like a final verdict.Leo remained frozen where he stood.Every word Kael had spoken replayed endlessly inside his mind, each sentence cutting deeper than the last. His hands flew to his head as he squeezed his temples tightly, shaking his head as if he could force the voices away.But they wouldn't stop.They kept coming.Again.And again.And again.The mighty beta who could slit a man's throat without hesitation, who never flinched in battle, who carried himself with unwavering pride...was nowhere to be seen.In his place was a broken man.A devastated man.If anyone were to see him now, they would never believe he was the same Leo feared acr
Kael stood frozen in the doorway. For a moment, he couldn't process the sight before him. Leo looked utterly shattered. His silver eyes were swollen and red from crying, tears still clinging stubbornly to his lashes. His usually neat hair was a complete mess, strands falling across his forehead. His lips were swollen, and faint marks stained the skin of his neck. He looked exhausted, devastated...like someone had ripped his heart out and left him standing. "Father..." The word barely left Leo's lips. Kael's gaze slowly shifted past his son. At the end of the chamber, near the bed stood Theo. The Alpha wasn't even looking at them. His back was turned, shoulders slumped beneath a burden that seemed far too heavy for one man to carry. The personal royal guard who always stood tall now looked broken. A dangerous silence settled between the three of them. Without saying a word, Kael stepped forward. His hand shot out and wrapped tightly around Leo's wrist. "Father, wait...."
"Then let's end this." Leo's words rang in Theo's head like a spell. For a heartbeat, silence followed. Then Theo moved. In one swift motion, the Alpha threw the blankets aside and climbed out of bed. Before Leo could react, a firm hand wrapped around his wrist and yanked him forward. A startled gasp left the Beta's lips as his back slammed against the cold stone wall. Theo caged him there instantly. His hands gripped Leo's shoulders tightly, preventing any escape while Leo struggled against him. "Have you completely lost your mind?" Theo roared. The force of his voice made Leo flinch. "Do you even hear yourself? Do you know what nonsense you're spouting right now?" The room seemed to shake with Theo’s anger. Leo's breath hitched. He lowered his gaze, unable to meet those furious golden eyes. Never...not once in all the years they had known each other... had Theo raised his voice at him like this. And that terrified him. "Leo." Theo's voice dropped into a dangerous growl
Heavy breaths echoed through the chamber as Theo captured Leo's lips once again, drawing him into a kiss that left the Beta utterly breathless. Leo's hand pressed weakly against Theo's chest, an attempt to create even the smallest distance between them. But the Alpha merely caught his wrist with ease, holding it firmly above Leo's head. A muffled whimper escaped Leo's lips. The sound snapped Theo back to reality. His eyes widened slightly before he immediately pulled away. Leo gasped for air, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he struggled to steady his breathing. Guilt flickered across Theo's face as he gently rubbed circles against Leo's back. "Easy, stormy," he murmured. The chamber fell silent except for the sound of their uneven breaths. A single tear had gathered at the corner of Leo's eye from the overwhelming intensity of the moment. Theo's expression softened instantly. Reaching up, he carefully brushed it away with his thumb. The tenderness in that simpl
The cool night breeze brushed against Elara's face as she stood alone on the balcony. She closed her eyes, allowing the gentle wind to wash over her, carrying away the stress, fear, and uncertainty that had been suffocating her for days. For a brief moment, she felt at peace. But peace never stayed long. A sting burned behind her eyes, and when she slowly opened them, she realized tears had already begun to gather. Tilting her head upward, she gazed at the full moon hanging high in the night sky. A lone tear escaped and slid silently down her cheek. "Mom..." she whispered, her voice barely audible. Her fingers curled around the balcony railing. "I promise I'll fulfill your last wish." Her throat tightened painfully. "The moment I return to my world, I'll marry the man Father chose for me. I won't let either of you down." The words left her lips, yet they felt foreign. Heavy. Wrong. As if she were forcing herself to believe something her heart refused to accept. Another
"No, actually, on a serious note, why are you sending Leo here?" Elara asked, finally pulling Lucien out of the awkward silence that had settled over the room. Beside her, Lyra immediately straightened. "Yes! I want to know too," she chimed in, curiosity practically dripping from her voice. Lucien pinched the bridge of his nose before letting out a weary sigh. "Because Leo will be stationed outside this chamber from now on," he replied. "I don't want to take any risks." Elara frowned. "What risk?" For a moment, Lucien simply stared at her as if he couldn't believe she was asking that question. Then he sighed again, this time heavier. "I think you've forgotten because of everything that happened with the marriage discussion." The room fell silent. "The person who ordered that guard to harm you is still out there," Lucien continued, his voice turning serious. "Theo killed the guard before we could get any answers. If he hadn't, we might have known who was behind it by now."
Silence stretched across the royal chamber.A terrifying silence.No one spoke.No one even dared to breathe.The tension hanging in the air felt sharp enough to cut through skin.Then....."This is absurd."Kael stepped forward abruptly, his voice echoing coldly through the chamber."With all due
Queen Vivienne's calm expression cracked for the briefest second. And Lucien noticed it. His green eyes darkened dangerously. The entire chamber had fallen into suffocating silence, no one daring to speak as the weight of Lucien's accusation settled heavily over everyone present. Vivienne slowl
Everyone took in the words said by the king.Lyra's eyes widened in shock while Theo subtly stiffened.Even Kael looked momentarily caught off guard.But Elara..."To take over the throne, you need your Queen beside you."Ragnar's words echoed relentlessly inside Elara's mind.Again.And again.And
Everyone present in the royal chamber held their breath as the king's eyes slowly fluttered open.For a moment, silence swallowed the entire room. Even the sound of the crackling fireplace seemed distant as every gaze remained fixed on the weakened king lying on the bed.Lucien stood frozen beside







