TBL-1 45.2

Yoren stood before a tall mirror that reflected his full figure: upright, disciplined and seemingly unshakable. The desk behind him was neatly arranged with several travel documents, a half-rolled map of Helvarn’s territory and a long, dark coat that he would wear for his departure in two days' time.Fifteen days was no short time. The reality of it seeped into the quiet of the room, accompanied by the faint rustle of fabric and the carefully controlled rhythm of his breathing.Yoren fastened his cufflinks slowly. Then, without realising it, his hand paused midway. His fingers brushed against something cool resting against his chest: a small pendant hidden beneath his shirt, a necklace Eirene had given him.For the past few days, Yoren had been wearing the necklace without giving it much thought. He had put it on as if it were merely part of his routine, as though it meant nothing at all.He lowered his head slightly. The lamplight reflected off its

TBL-1 46.1

The television in the living room had been on for an hour, but Eirene had stopped paying much attention to it fifteen minutes ago. She was sprawled lazily on the long sofa, with her back against the cushioned backrest, one leg folded and the other dangling towards the floor.On the screen, the host spoke with exaggerated enthusiasm about topics that Eirene did not fully understand: winter trends, celebrity gossip and things that felt far removed from her life. The voice had become background noise; it was no longer something she was truly listening to.Over the past few days, Eirene’s mind had felt too preoccupied with more important matters to pay attention to trivial things. She tried to calm herself with small routines—watching television, reading and taking short walks in the backyard—but everything felt half-hearted.A soft knock at the door disrupted her thoughts. She shifted her gaze. “Come in.”Kyla appeared from behind the door, looking as calm, composed and unreadable as eve

TBL-1 46.2

The study was filled with afternoon light streaming through the tall windows on the west-facing side. The sky was changing colour from pale blue to a warm golden hue, which was reflected off the large wooden desk in the centre of the room.Yoren stood near the desk with both hands braced against its surface, leaning slightly forward. Fabrizio stood across from him, holding several documents and a slim tablet displaying their travel schedule.“Departure is at two in the morning,” said Fabrizio. “We'll have a brief transit before continuing the journey. The main meeting is scheduled for two days after arrival.”Yoren gave a short nod. “Security?”‘It’s been coordinated,” Fabrizio replied succinctly. “The core team will depart with us. The rest will follow a day later.”Yoren offered no comment, then shifted to another matter. “Have you coordinated local affairs here with Naomi?&r

TBL-1 46.3

Yoren glanced at his wristwatch. He had three more hours before he had to depart. He should have started preparing by now. Yet he did not move.The pulse from the pendant had calmed. Colour had gradually returned to Eirene’s face. But the unrest in Yoren’s chest had not eased.A faint tremor stirred in the air. A soft groan broke the silence.Yoren straightened up immediately. “Eirene?”Eirene eacted. Her brows furrowed. Her lashes fluttered gently before her eyes slowly opened.Yoren waited, tense. He was eager to check her condition, but chose to remain still for a moment. He gave her time to gather herself. What he did not expect was that the first thing Eirene became aware of was him.Eirene called to him in a faint voice, almost a whisper. “Alpha?”Yoren moved closer, his chair scraping softly against the floor. “How do you feel? Are you in any discomfort?”Eirene did not ans

TBL-1 47.1

First darkness, then a faint light. The emptiness slowly began to fill with an undefined presence.Eirene felt as though she were floating between two worlds, not quite asleep and not quite awake. Her body felt weightless, while her head felt empty, as though it were a vast, wall-less space.A question drifted through her mind: What happened?She tried to move her fingers. The first sensation she experienced was a soft touch beneath her palm, like smooth, delicate fabric. A sense of peace washed over her, allowing her to breathe freely. An unfamiliar yet familiar, warm and calming scent brushed against her senses.Eirene’s eyes slowly opened. Her vision was still blurred, but she could make out dim shadows of light, a ceiling with fine carvings and the silhouette of someone sitting nearby. Her heart began to beat a little faster. The Alpha? Impossible.Eirene’s thoughts were not yet clear. She wasn't even sure whether she was truly awake or still trapped in the remnants of a dream.Th

TBL-1 47.2

The sky was dark; it was still the early hours of the morning. The garden lights were faintly reflected on the glass, revealing his tall, upright reflection.Yoren stood before the window, expressionless, looking out over the palace grounds while his thoughts churned in disarray. After a long time, he finally closed his eyes for a moment. The memory of that kiss crossed his mind, causing him to exhale slowly. He lifted both his hands and rubbed his face roughly.Fool, Yoren snarled inwardly. How could I lose control like that?Yoren replayed the incident in his mind, trying to find some logic in it. Eirene had just woken up and touched his cheek lightly—almost fragilely. Then he had felt dazed, as though something had taken over his body—instinct, impulse and all the things he had always controlled perfectly.The curses in his mind echoed endlessly, repeating over and over. Yoren knew he should not have acted that way. He was an alpha. Every decision he made had to be carefully consid