《Once Rejected, Now Claimed By The Lycan King》全部章節：第 171 章 - 第 180 章

Bella's POVBy the time dusk settled over the Northern Palace, I had made my decision.I hated it.Every instinct told me I shouldn't be sneaking out like this. Not from my mate. Not after everything we had survived together.But this wasn't about betrayal.It was about protecting him.Thor had only just begun to breathe without carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. If Kade truly had returned with news that could shake the North, I needed to know the truth before placing another burden on him.I slipped a dark cloak over my shoulders and pulled the hood low before quietly leaving the palace...."I was beginning to think you wouldn't come."The familiar voice drifted from the darkness.I turned as Kade stepped into the moonlight.For a heartbeat, I barely recognized him.The fierce warrior I remembered hadn't become weaker—far from it—but time had hardened him in different ways. Deep lines marked his face, and a fresh scar stretched from his temple to his jaw. Only his

Bella's POVThe weight of my thoughts lingered long after they should have faded.No matter how many times I tried to convince myself that I had done enough for Sumi, the truth remained painfully clear. I hadn't. I couldn't. Everything she had sacrificed for me was far too great to be repaid with a warm room, clean clothes, and a single decent meal.I reached across the table and gently placed my hand over hers."You don't have to force yourself to eat," I said softly. "But you don't have to be afraid anymore either. You're safe here."Sumi's fingers trembled beneath mine.For a brief moment, she simply stared at our joined hands before letting out a quiet, shaky breath."I don't know if I'll ever stop being afraid," she admitted with a faint smile that failed to reach her eyes. "When you've spent years wondering whether every sunrise will be your last... safety feels like something made up in stories."The confession tightened something inside my chest.I squeezed her hand reassuring

Bella's POVThe palace had never felt this restless before.From the moment the sun rose, whispers followed me through every corridor.Servants lowered their voices whenever I passed.Guards exchanged glances they thought I couldn't see.Even the maids who usually greeted me with warm smiles seemed unusually hesitant, as though speaking to me might somehow involve them in whatever rumor had spread overnight.I didn't have to ask why.Sumi.The news of her presence had escaped the palace walls far faster than I expected.By breakfast, the entire pack seemed to know there was a woman from Valoria living under our roof.Some called her a refugee.Others called her a spy.The cruelest called her a disease that had crossed the border.I hated every single one of them.After spending most of the morning with Sumi in the guest chambers, I finally managed to convince her to step outside for some fresh air.She looked exhausted.The fear from the previous night hadn't left her eyes, but there

Bella's POVThe palace had changed in ways I hadn't expected, not because Sumi had arrived, but because everyone else had. Their reactions, their whispers, and their judgment seemed to follow me through every corridor, making the palace feel heavier, as though suspicion itself had become another member of the royal household.I had expected resistance when I brought Sumi into the palace. She came from Valoria, and that alone was enough for many people to decide who she was before ever speaking to her.What I hadn't expected was my own uncertainty.It unsettled me more than the gossip ever could.Standing beside the window of my chambers, I stared out at the palace gardens below. The morning sun painted everything in soft gold, yet I found no comfort in the beautiful view. My thoughts kept drifting back to Sumi—to the woman I had once known, or rather... the woman I thought I had known.A quiet knock sounded at the door."My Queen.""Come in."My maid, Laila, stepped inside before offe

Bella's POVThe image of Sumi kneeling on the kitchen floor refused to leave me.Long after I returned to my chambers, I found myself staring at the untouched tea Laila had prepared. It had grown cold, yet I hadn't noticed. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the same expression crossing Sumi's face when the pot struck the floor—not surprise, not embarrassment, but the instinctive terror of someone expecting pain.I had seen fear before.War left fear in every kingdom it touched.This was different.Fear born from battle looked outward, searching for danger. Sumi's fear looked inward, as though she believed she was the danger.A soft knock interrupted my thoughts."Your Majesty," Laila said as she entered. "Lord Theorone is here."I looked up."Send him in."A moment later, Theorone stepped into the room. His posture was as composed as ever, though his eyes immediately settled on the untouched tea before meeting mine."You haven't been resting.""It appears neither have you."The corne