Four

She hesitated, looking back at her mother, who was mouthing hateful words, and at Torren, who glared down at her with cold annoyance. She realized she had nothing left in this place but misery.

Taking a shaky breath, Vaelira raised her hand and placed her rough fingers into my palm.

The moment her skin touched mine, a sharp spark of raw energy surged straight up my arm, thrumming deep in my chest. My wolf stirred inside me, locking its focus entirely on her. I closed my fingers gently around hers—firm enough to let her know she was secure, but soft enough not to hurt her.

"Let's go," I whispered.

I turned, leading her down the aisle toward the heavy exit doors.

"Stop right there!" Torren shouted from the stage, his voice laced with wounded pride. "You think you can just take her and walk away without paying respects to the Alpha?"

I paused near the door, keeping my back to him.

"You discarded her, Alpha," I said coldly, my tone leaving zero room for argument. "She is no longer your concern."

I pushed open the heavy oak doors, leading Vaelira out of that wretched hall and into the freezing night air.

My simple wooden carriage waited in the dark shadows just past the pack borders. I helped her step inside before climbing in across from her and shutting the heavy door.

The carriage pulled away into the dark, the wooden wheels crunching against the snow.

Inside, lit only by a tiny swinging oil lantern, Vaelira wrapped her arms tightly around herself, shivering violently. Panic and confusion radiated off her in thick waves.

"What do you want with me?" she asked, her voice cracking.

I kept my hood pulled low, watching her carefully. "To make you my Luna."

A dry, bitter laugh escaped her lips as she shook her head. "That’s a lie. Look at me. I’m useless... No one wants someone like me."

I stayed silent, letting her speak. She needed to vent the poison they had poured into her head for years.

"If you're going to kill me, just do it already," she whispered, staring down at her lap. "Even if you sold me, no one would buy me as a maid. I’m just a fat, useless wolf."

"Why did he treat you like that?" I asked quietly, keeping my tone steady and free of judgment. "Why did your Alpha humiliate you?"

"Because he could," she swallowed hard, fighting back her pain. "Because I was foolish enough to believe his lies."

"And your family?" I pressed softly. "Where were they? Why didn't they stand up for you?"

"They were in the front row," she said bitterly, her voice breaking. "My mother was laughing at me. My sister was holding Torren’s hand. I don't have a family. I’m just a burden that no one wants."

I leaned forward into the faint lantern light, looking straight into her eyes.

"I want you," I said firmly. "I don't care about your size, Vaelira."

She lifted her head, stunned into total silence.

"I watched three hundred people try to break you tonight," I continued softly. "You didn't cry. You didn't beg. You held your head high. I don't care about skinny waists or pack titles. I care about what's inside. I care about your strength."

She stared at me, her chest heaving as she processed my words.

Before she could speak, the carriage came to a complete stop.

"We are here," I said, opening the door and stepping out into the cold night.

Vaelira followed me out into the grand white marble courtyard of the palace. The moment my boots hit the stone, dozens of elite royal guards lined up in two perfect rows dropped to one knee in unison.

"Welcome back, Your Majesty!" Captain Robert called out loudly.

Vaelira’s jaw dropped in absolute shock.

I reached up, pulled back my brown hood, and unbuckled my dusty traveling cloak, letting it drop to the floor. Underneath, my silver-embroidered black tunic caught the torchlight.

I turned to Vaelira and held out my hand once more.

"Welcome to the Royal Palace, Vaelira," I said quietly. "Welcome home."