Noah's POVThe market was loud and full of people. I was walking through it, my head down, not really looking at anyone. I just wanted to get back to the castle. Then, my eyes met hers.It was like the whole world went quiet. She was across the street, a small girl with messy hair and old, torn clothes. Our eyes locked, and a single word popped into my head: mate. It was a secret, amazing, impossible word. I could not believe it. I stood there, frozen, the word sitting on my lips, too shocked to speak.I saw the fear in her eyes first. It was a deep, wild fear, like a rabbit caught in a trap. But under that fear, I saw something else. I saw a strong spirit. She was scared, but she was not broken. Just as I was thinking this, I saw the big, red-faced baker. He was shouting angry words at her. In his hand, he held a thick wooden rod, high in the air, ready to swing it down and hit her for stealing a loaf of bread.Seeing that man about to hurt her made something snap inside me. I moved
Last Updated : 2025-11-23 Read more