LOGINXavier stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of the main hall, clutching a glass of scotch he hadn't even touched.
Beside him, Queen Althea was steering the conversation with the kind of effortless control that comes from a lifetime of never being told 'no.'
"You're being awfully quiet tonight," she said, her smile perfectly tailored for the royal inner circle gathered around them. "The regional Alphas were hoping for more of your attention."
For the third time in a few m
Those words actually hit home.Matias shifted his weight, looking uncomfortable, while Roman just stayed silent—which was an answer in itself.I turned to Brie. "You think he's the reason she left?""I think you've put up with him for way too long," she said. "And your wolf finally snapped."I felt a lump form in my throat.I wanted to snap back, but I didn’t know what I was fighting for: the claim, the bond, or the memory of the Xavier who’d saved me at eighteen—the only one who cared if I was okay while others demanded apologies.Ciel remained silent, her absence feeling like a growing void. I sank into the pillows and whispered, "I need to know where he is."Roman let out a low, irritated sound."Talking about that Lycan already pisses me off," he said. "I've been tired of that stupid choker since the first time I saw it on you."I opened my eyes and looked at him."Roman.""What? You want the tr
The hospital room was too quiet.Not the usual quiet of late nights and soft machines. This was quieter. Emptier.I kept reaching for something that wasn't there."Ciel."I whispered her name for the fourth time since Brie had stepped out to speak with the nurse.Nothing.I closed my eyes and concentrated, searching for the familiar presence that had always answered, even when she was being difficult.Still nothing.My fingers tightened around the blanket.Maybe it was the medication. Maybe my body was still recovering from the coma. There had to be a reasonable explanation.I tried again."Ciel, please."The monitor beside my bed began beeping faster.The door opened, and I quickly wiped my damp palms against the blanket.Brie entered first, carrying a paper cup of water. Matias followed her, with Roman bringing up the rear.Brie stopped when she saw my face."What's wrong?""I can't hear her."Brie's eyebrows drew together. "Who?""Ciel."She immediately put the cup down and approac
The water was cold and heavy.It filled my mouth, my nose, my ears. My body refused to move the way I needed it to. Every attempt to kick only made the dark pull harder. My chest burned. My arms felt useless.I was going to die here.Ciel tried. She pushed against the panic, against the weight, against the part of me that had already started to let go. She snarled and clawed and refused.I didn’t have the strength left to match her.After the garden. After the hands and the words and the way my body had frozen. After years of carrying everything and pretending it hadn’t cracked me open. I was so tired.Just for a second, I thought, it would be easier to stop.The dark pressed closer.I tried to reach the surface again, but my body barely responded. My fingers opened and closed in the water, searching for something solid. There was nothing.Ciel pressed against me, frantic now.Stay with me. Ravenna, listen to me.I w
Matias's POVRoman Renard was polishing a glass, feigning busyness, though Matias knew he noticed everything."Ravenna called," Matias said.Roman shrugged. "She’s raised on soap operas. What's the news?""No shit, man. She was actually crying."The glass stopped moving. "What happened?""I don't know. She was rambling about the council, her father, and Freya. She sounded messed up, then I heard a noise—I couldn't tell what it was." Matias pulled out his phone. "The call dropped, and I've been trying to reach her ever since."Roman set the glass down. "How long ago?""Ten minutes.""And nothing since?""No."Ravenna didn't ask for help when things went wrong; she just disappeared. She’d started doing that six years ago when she first landed in Greystone—starving, with a split lip and nobody in her corner.She had learned pretty quickly that asking for help usually didn't get her anywhere.
Xavier stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of the main hall, clutching a glass of scotch he hadn't even touched.Beside him, Queen Althea was steering the conversation with the kind of effortless control that comes from a lifetime of never being told 'no.'"You're being awfully quiet tonight," she said, her smile perfectly tailored for the royal inner circle gathered around them. "The regional Alphas were hoping for more of your attention."For the third time in a few minutes, Xavier's eyes drifted past her shoulder.He kept checking the side doors to the gardens, but they were still shut. Ravenna wasn't back yet.Deep down, his wolf was pacing, restless and on edge.Something was wrong.The scent in the air had shifted—subtle, but wrong. Not fear exactly. Something colder. Older. The kind of wrong that made the animal in him want to tear through the room without waiting for permission."Xavier," Althea said mo
The gathering was worse than I expected.Crystal lights. Perfect smiles. Too many eyes.I felt them the moment we stepped into the main hall. Purebloods. Council members. Old money. All of them looking at me like I was something on display. Some tried to hide it. Most didn't bother."That's the Holloway girl." "The incomplete match." "Beckett's Omega." "Still wearing the collar, I see."The whispers followed me wherever I moved. Xavier stayed close, one hand resting lightly at the small of my back, but it didn't stop the stares. If anything, it made them sharper.An older Alpha near the champagne table didn't even try to be subtle. Thick silver at his temples, expensive watch, the kind of calm that only came with old power. His gaze stayed on me for a long time.When I passed close enough, he spoke just loud enough for me to hear."Beautiful Omega. Shame she's already claimed."Xavier's fingers tightened against my back. I felt the shift in him through the bond—cold and immediat







