All Chapters of In Love with the Alpha’s Daughter: Chapter 21 - Chapter 29

After Lina watched Louis’s shadow disappear into the night, she lingered at the balcony for a few more seconds, the crisp evening air brushing against her skin. There was a strange emptiness in her chest—one she couldn’t explain, and didn’t dare name. Shaking the feeling off, she turned and began heading to her room. Her mind was scattered, and her heart… unsettled.Just as she reached for her door, she nearly bumped into Nisa, who stood there as if she’d been waiting. That ever-present smile curved her lips, polished and unreadable.“Alpha Dane needs you, my Luna,” Nisa said smoothly.Lina blinked, her hand pausing on the doorknob. A thousand thoughts rushed through her mind. Did Dane see her outside with Louis? Had someone told him? A part of her wanted to ask, but pride silenced her.“Must it be tonight?” she asked softly, voice weighed with exhaustion. “I’m really tired.”“I’m afraid so, my Luna. He needs you now,” Nisa replied with eyes glittering with something unreadable.Lina

The first light of dawn crept through the tall windows of Lina’s room, brushing golden warmth across the stone walls. She hadn’t slept. She’d spent the night pacing, replaying yesterday’s conversations with her father, her fears, and her endless internal arguments.She hated this.Hated feeling like a prisoner in her own home.And most of all, she hated the aching emptiness that came with knowing her future had already been written—without her consent.The bond to Dane pulsed quietly in her chest. It wasn’t strong—not yet. They hadn’t fully completed the mating bond. But it was there, like a lingering thread tugging at her thoughts.A bond that should have meant protection. Love. Understanding.Not this… distance.A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.She hesitated. Only a few people knocked on her door like that. Not the guards. Not the maids.“Come in,” she said finally.The door creaked open, and Dane stepped into the room.He looked tired. His dark hair was slightly disheveled, h

The late afternoon sun bled golden light over the forest’s edge, turning the air warm and soft as it filtered through the trees. The pack grounds were quieter than usual—most warriors were inside, resting or eating—but Lina preferred it that way. Solitude had become oddly comforting in the past few days, and now that she was allowed to wander under supervision, she took full advantage of the open space. Her boots crunched lightly against the gravel path as she made her way past the small clearing where training usually took place. A light breeze brushed her hair from her shoulders, and for the first time in days, she felt like she could breathe. She didn’t expect to see him. Louis was standing at the edge of the woods, half-hidden in shadow, sleeves rolled to his elbows, a small pile of firewood at his feet. He moved with quiet efficiency, arms flexing slightly with each piece he stacked. His back was to her, but somehow, she knew he’d sensed her presence before she even said a wo

The sky had already deepened into a smoky violet by the time Lina slipped out of the packhouse again. The walls felt too close, too heavy with responsibilities she wasn’t ready to face. Out here, under the open sky, she could almost remember who she was before everything changed.Almost.The air was cool against her skin, laced with the earthy scent of pine and fresh grass. A few warriors still lingered near the training grounds, their laughter low and fading as they drifted back toward the main house. Lina kept her distance, wandering further out toward the open fields, where the moon was just beginning to rise.That was when she saw him.Louis.He was sitting alone at the edge of the training field, his back against a low fence post, one knee bent loosely as he stared out over the darkening landscape. His posture was lazy, but his eyes were sharp, like he was guarding something unseen.Maybe himself.Without fully thinking, Lina walked over, the soft crunch of her boots on the grass