เข้าสู่ระบบ“Jude!” I shouted joyfully across the garden, running toward where he was, not caring how many servants might see me acting so impulsively.I guess I never really cared about looking silly when it came to my best friend.He was sitting at the table with the umbrella, where we had spent so many afternoons just talking over the years. He didn't even mind when I asked to play with dolls when we were children. It was a thought I had always avoided when I was young, but my best friend had always been the brother I wished Leon would become one day. He never made me feel useless or inadequate. He was always there to listen to me. I never felt afraid to show my vulnerability in his presence.Jude stood up as soon as he heard me call him, and the first thing I noticed was that he was wearing his new uniform, the dark colors and medals making him look older and more serious than usual. When I was just a few steps away, he bowed deeply, always concerned with etiquette, even more so than I was.
I had made my decision. The insecurities of the past were still trying to come back and bother me, but now I was resolute.Which meant I had a lot to work on.It only took me two more days to compile the complete list of items and lands the Madlocks had to return to me before the engagement was officially over. And, of course, I had already spoken to my father to get rid of all their gifts as quickly as possible. He remained hesitant about my decision to “let my mate go,” but at least in this part, there would be no scandal. Sean had offended our entire lineage by rejecting our bond. The least our people expected was that all traces of this broken promise would be erased.My father, being the kindest man on earth that he was, even questioned whether I wanted him to end the alliance between our packs, but…I couldn't ask him to completely give up on the Madlocks' support. Not after what I'd seen at the castle gates.If I were the only one affected, if I could afford to think only of m
“What…?” I blinked, totally confused, until I realized that what he had found wasn’t a list of goods.It was a land transfer certificate.“This piece of our territory?” I picked up the document, though I already knew what was there “It’s a tiny portion compared to the rest, to tell the truth. Alpha Madlock mentioned, some time ago, that he needed a place to expand his herd’s pasture, so I offered this land. It was an inheritance left to me by my mother. Her family came from one of the small villages around here.” I explained “In the end, the Madlocks didn’t even use this place, as far as I know. The soil wasn’t good…”"Take it back." he repeated, almost like an order.“Why you…? It’s just a small, almost barren square of land. Of all the things they can give me back, this is probably the last one I’ll bother with…”“You said you’d ask for everything back. Don’t go back on your word.” He snatched the paper from me again, placing it with the other important documents “And don’t think th
"You... Uh... You really don't need to help me with this." I murmured, and I'd like to think I didn't sound rude or mean, just... Confused.In response, Adrien's cousin, Gwen, simply smiled and shrugged, continuing to leaf through the records and reports in her hands, separating those that would be useful to me from time to time.I think all the Cross family members had this talent for dominating a place with their presence, as if it now belonged to them.I wasn't even expecting a visit from any of them today. I had set aside the entire day to review those documents and prepare for the meeting with the temple elders, which I knew would happen very soon. Sean would make sure it was soon. I had even thought about asking Verity for help or something, but only after my mind was exhausted from so much reading.But then, Gwendolyn had shown up with more unexpected gifts and…"That's all that was useful in that pile." She separated one last paper, reaching for another set of reports.I could
Almost the entire Vitale Castle was surrounded by walls countless meters high, to protect us from possible attacks. But there was a small part of the entrance, which led to the courtyard in front of the main castle gates, that was protected only by grille gates. Leaving the outside visible. And, Goddess, I froze in place the instant I stepped completely out of the garden and placed my first foot in the courtyard.I was meters and meters away from those grids, but it was impossible not to see what was happening there.There were dozens, maybe a hundred, of people huddled on the other side of the grids, pushing each other as if trying to squeeze through the gaps. I could hear their screams and cries louder than ever, begging for Rosalind to appear, some even with their arms raised, showing their babies.
Of everything I had seen and heard up to now, perhaps that little smile was the closest I'd come to exploding again, like I did with Leon the day I woke up.My hatred for that woman was unlike anything I had ever felt. My brother and my ex-fiancé had betrayed and abandoned me, something that was partly her fault. Although, I wasn't stupid enough to think they would magically love me if she hadn't been there. Those two cowards would have found an excuse to let me die in that collapse even without the saint being present. Now I saw them for who they really were.And yet, that woman…None of the four packs formed strong bonds with humans. But we all welcomed her as if she were one of us from day one, after we saw the mark on her forehead. A mark that, somehow, she had forged! I refused to believe that the Goddess would bless someone capable of lying, plotting, deceiving, and still finding amusement in it all!Leon and Sean might have been two idiotic traitors who believed her lies. But







