FAZER LOGINISADORA POV I was helping Lily with her breakfast when one of Caelen’s guards came looking for me. He stood outside the dining room, waiting until I noticed him before he spoke, his posture straight and his expression giving nothing away.“Alpha wants you in his room.” He kept his expression neutral.I put down the spoon in my hand and looked toward Lily. She was busy trying to pick up a piece of fruit with her fingers, completely unaware of the interruption.“Did he say why?” I asked.“No, Luna.” The guard shook his head. “He only told me to bring you to him.”I nodded and wiped Lily’s hands before handing her back to the maid.“Stay with her until I return.” I looked at the maid, then turned to the guard. “I’ll come now.”He stepped aside to let me pass.By the time I reached Caelen’s room, I was already wondering what had happened. He was recovering well, and after everything that happened with the ritual, I thought the worst of it was behind us. I knew better than to assume peace
ISADORA POV I woke before the sun came up, but I stayed where I was for a while, staring at the ceiling and listening to the quiet outside my room.The house felt different since the ritual.Not safer. Not yet.Just different.There was movement again. People spoke about Alpha Caelen’s recovery instead of whispering about how long he would remain unconscious. Guards walked through the halls with less tension in their shoulders. Even the servants seemed to carry themselves differently.And I still did not know what that meant for me.The thought followed me as I dressed and went downstairs.I found Amara in the dining room, sitting near the window with a cup of tea in front of her. She looked up when I entered.“You’re early,” she said.“I couldn’t sleep anymore.” I pulled out a chair and sat opposite her. “Is Alpha awake?”“He was when I checked earlier.” She picked up her cup. “He sent word that he wanted breakfast in his room.”I nodded. “That’s good.”Amara watched me for a moment
ISADORA POV The next morning, Caelen woke before the physicians arrived.I knew because I was already awake when I heard him move beside me.His breathing was steady, and when I turned toward him, he was sitting against the headboard with his feet resting on the floor. He looked tired, but the weakness that had kept him almost completely still for a long time was no longer the same.He looked down at his legs for a moment before placing both hands against the mattress and pushing himself up.I rose quickly. “Alpha, wait. You should let the physicians come first.”“I have been waiting long enough.” He steadied himself against the bed, his voice calm as he looked at his feet. “I want to know how much strength has returned.”“You only stood yesterday.”He remained where he was, testing his balance.I shook my head. “That does not mean you should keep testing yourself. The physicians told you to rest.”Before I could say anything else, there was a knock, and one of the physicians entered
ISADORA POV Before sunrise, I woke to the sound of movement beside me.For a moment, I stayed still and listened, then turned toward Caelen when I heard the mattress shift beneath him. He was sitting up against the pillows, his breathing steady as he adjusted himself, and there was something different about the way he moved. He still looked tired, but the strain that usually came with even the smallest movement was not as obvious as it had been before the ritual.Then I noticed his legs moving beneath the blanket.I pushed myself up and watched as he moved one leg slightly, then stopped as though he had felt something that surprised him. His eyes dropped to the blanket, and after a few seconds, he tried again.“Caelen?”His head turned toward me.He did not answer immediately. Instead, he moved his foot beneath the blanket, slowly at first, and his toes curled.“I can feel my legs.”I stared at him, hardly believing what I heard.“You can?”Caelen nodded once, still looking down as h
ISADORA POVThe next morning I was summoned to Luna Iris's sitting room again.I didn't sleep all through the night. The accusation still bothered over me. The guards had searched the house twice and found nothing. The necklace was still missing and Luna Mildred had made sure everyone knew I was the prime suspect. The gossip that followed me everywhere I went was ridiculous.Luna Iris was seated by the window when I entered. Luna Mildred stood beside her with her arms crossed and her face hard. Amara was there too, standing in the corner with her arms wrapped around herself."Close the door," Luna Iris said.I nodded did."The ritual is tonight," she said."I know." I nodded again.Luna Mildred suddenly shook her head. She slammed her hand on the arm of her chair. "It's be an insult to the moon goddess if she performed the ritual. The accusation should be resolved first."Luna Iris turned to her. "We've been through this.""And I'm saying it again. She's a thief. She stole from this
ISADORA POVI was sitting on a bench near the roses when Caelen's sister found me.The sun was barely up and the garden was quiet. I hadn't slept. Every time I closed my eyes I felt hands on my arms and the world tilting. So I gave up and came outside.She sat down beside me without asking. She didn't say anything at first. Just looked at the flowers like she was giving me time to breathe."How are you feeling?" She eventually asked."Better." I turned to look at her. "Thank you for last night. For saving me."She waved her hand. "Don't mention it.""I mean it. If you hadn't been there—""I know." She turned to me and her eyes were serious. "I'm glad I was."We sat in silence for a while. The sun rose higher and the garden came alive with birds and the smell of flowers."I never caught your name," I said."Amara." She held out her hand.I shook it. "That's pretty.""Thank you. My mother picked it."We talked for a while about nothing important. The weather and the pack and the garden.







