4: JUST FOR TONIGHT.

MALIA’S POV.

“Your phone has been ringing a lot more than usual today.”

Zara sets another jar of herbs on the counter, eyeing me carefully.

I glance at the screen and my stomach tightens instantly.

Draven.

Again.

This was the third call since that night. I still haven’t opened any of his texts. Or the emails. Because I already knew what they’d say.

And with Emil back…

My thumb presses reject before I can think twice. I shove the phone back into my pocket.

“I’m sorry about that.” I grab the clipboard again. “Now, where were we?”

Zara doesn’t answer immediately.

“The herbs,” I repeat. “How many bundles are left?”

Still nothing.

“Zara.”

“I thought you’d be the happiest person in the pack right now.”

My grip tightens slightly around the clipboard. “Who said I’m not happy?”

She folds her arms. “You stayed loyal to Alpha Emil for two years while everyone told you to move on. Now he’s finally back and you look... miserable.”

I keep my eyes on the inventory sheet.

Zara’s honesty was one of the things I liked most about her, It was also one of the most annoying.

“Last night at dinner, you barely spoke to him.”

“He came back yesterday after two years of silence,” I mutter, scribbling down numbers. “If you expect us to jump into each other’s arms immediately, you’re expecting too much.”

“I’m not saying that, but the way you both acted—”

“You’re reading too deeply into nothing.”

She wasn’t. I don’t even know what Emil and I are right now. Ever since I stormed out yesterday, he hasn’t tried speaking to me again.

At dinner, he barely looked my way.

The only thing he told me before leaving for the border was that guests from one of his new alliances would be arriving tomorrow.

That was it.

Two years ago, Emil never let arguments sit unresolved. If something was wrong between us, he fixed it immediately.

Now?

It feels like we’re both waiting for the other person to break first.

“Luna,” Grace calls from across the room. “Aida needs your opinion on the flowers.”

***

Hours later, the eastern hall was still chaos.

Flowers covered half the tables. Omegas rushed in and out carrying silver trays while Zara argued with the kitchen staff over spices.

I should’ve left hours ago.

Instead, I buried myself deeper into the preparations. Working was easier than thinking.

Emil still hadn’t given an exact number for the guests. All Blake told me was that they’d be hosting them in the eastern hall.

The eastern hall.

A place reserved for galas, ceremonies, weddings.

Not ordinary dinners. Which meant this wasn’t ordinary. And the more I thought about it, the less I liked it.

“He wants you to ask questions,” a voice in my head whispered.

Maybe.

Maybe Emil expected me to corner him. Demand answers. Break the silence first... Too bad I was too exhausted to play whatever game this was.

By the time preparations finally ended, my entire body ached.

I headed back to our chambers hoping Emil had returned.

He hadn’t.

“The alpha left for another patrol near the western border,” Blake informed me after dinner.

He think to telling me.

The irritation sat heavier than it should have.

For the rest of the night, I tossed restlessly beneath the sheets, waiting for the sound of the door, but nothing came.

At some point, exhaustion dragged me under.

The next time I opened my eyes, the mattress dipped behind me.

Warm arms wrapped around my waist.

My body tensed automatically.

“Emil—”

“Don’t.” His voice comes rough against the back of my neck. Tired. Frayed around the edges. “Can we not do this tonight?”

Sleep still clouded my thoughts, but even then, I knew this wasn’t fixing anything.

I should’ve pushed him away.

Should’ve ended this before things became even messier.

But his grip tightened slightly, almost desperate.

“Just tonight,” he murmured.

His breathing was uneven now.

“Can we just stay like this… for tonight?”

I went still.

Because for the first time since Emil came back—he sounded... almost afraid.