CHAPTER SEVENTY ONE

HOPE'S POV.I kept glancing at the clock on the wall, wondering why Hunter wasn't back yet. I had barely seen him all day, only catching glimpses of him here and there. It was almost midnight, and he still hadn't returned to the room. I was starting to grow worried.I sighed and adjusted the pillow behind my head. Slowly, my thoughts returned to the meeting with the elders days ago. They had questioned me, scrutinized me, and all Hunter had done was stand there, calm and unwavering, like nothing could touch him. And yet, I still felt the heat of embarrassment prickling at my skin. I had been made to feel so small, so out of place, even with Hunter’s presence.I told myself I wasn’t going to let it get to me, but yeah… easier said than done.Glancing at the clock once more, I realized it was already 12:15 a.m., and my brow furrowed.Hunter still hadn't returned. This didn’t make any sense. He normally didn’t stay out this late. Something must be wrong.I needed to find him. I couldn’t

Last Updated : 2026-03-30

CHAPTER SEVENTY TWO

HOPE’S POV.The room was quiet except for the soft rhythm of our breathing. Hunter and I lay in each other’s arms in the dim glow of the moon filtering through the blinds, the warmth of his body pressed against mine. His arm draped over me in a protective loop, and I traced idle patterns along his shoulder and chest, feeling the steady beat of his pulse beneath my fingers.Tonight was supposed to be simple, just us, a quiet night, nothing more. And for a while, that was exactly what it was. We talked and laughed about everything and nothing. For a moment, everything was calm and peaceful.Until suddenly, Hunter’s body stiffened beneath me.His eyes, usually so calm, darkened with a shadow I couldn’t name. Then tension rippled through him, subtle at first, but enough to make me tense up with worry.“Hunter?” I whispered, nudging him gently.He shook his head, as if trying to shake off an invisible weight. “I’m fine,” he muttered, though the edge in his voice told me that wasn’t true.I

Last Updated : 2026-03-31

CHAPTER SEVENTY THREE

HUNTER’S POV.Hope fell asleep before I did.I felt it in the way her breathing slowly evened out, in the way her body relaxed completely against mine like she had finally let go of every worry she had been carrying all day.She trusted me.That thought sat heavy in my chest now.Her fingers were still loosely curled against my chest, her head resting just beneath my chin. I stared at the ceiling, my mind anything but quiet.“I don’t remember anything.”That’s what I told her.I exhaled slowly.That wasn’t entirely true.I shifted slightly, careful not to wake her. Her grip on me tightened for a brief second, like she felt the movement even in her sleep, and then it loosened again.My eyes dropped to her face.She looked… peaceful.Too peaceful.A small part of me envied that.I reached up and gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face, letting my fingers linger for just a second longer than necessary.“I didn’t lie,” I murmured under my breath.But I didn’t tell her the truth

Last Updated : 2026-04-01

CHAPTER SEVENTY FOUR

HUNTER’S POV.The forest was quiet.Too quiet.Not the peaceful kind of quiet. Not the kind that calms your mind and lets you breathe. This one was more of torture.I stood still, my chest rising and falling slowly, trying to steady myself after the flashes. My head still felt crowded, like the memories hadn’t fully left. Like they were just… hiding, waiting for the right moment to come back.I dragged a hand down my face and exhaled.“Get it together,” I muttered under my breath.But the images wouldn’t go away.The man begging.The fear in that room.The woman who looked at me like I had become someone she didn’t recognize.My jaw tightened.“What kind of man was I, really…?” I whispered.The question didn’t leave me.It stayed there, my thoughts heavy and uncomfortable.Then the sound of footsteps reached my ears.It was coming from behind me.My body reacted instantly, going still. Every muscle tightened, every sense sharpened. But the steps weren’t rushed. They weren’t trying to

Last Updated : 2026-04-02

CHAPTER SEVENTY FIVE

HUNTER'S POV.I frowned slightly.That wasn’t what I expected.“It’s nothing,” I said.But even I could hear the edge in my voice.She didn’t believe me.I could see it in her eyes.“No,” she said gently. “It’s not nothing, Alaric. Stop lying to yourself."I looked away for a second, my gaze drifting into the trees.Because she was right.And I hated that she was right.“It feels like something is missing, doesn’t it?” she continued. “Like there’s a part of you that you can’t reach.”My fingers curled slightly at my sides.“That’s enough,” I said.But my voice wasn’t as steady as I wanted it to be.She saw that too.Of course she did.“Does she know?” she asked suddenly.My eyes snapped back to her.“Know what?”She held my gaze.“About what you’re going through.”I didn’t hesitate.“She knows enough.”Her expression shifted slightly.Not much.But I caught it.“No,” she said softly. “She knows what you choose to show her, Alaric. There's a difference.”The words hit harder than they

Last Updated : 2026-04-03

CHAPTER SEVENTY SIX

HUNTER’S POV.The walk back to the palace felt longer than it should have.Every step I took, her words followed me.“She won’t stay.”“I stayed.”“It’s already inside you.”I clenched my jaw, pushing the thoughts aside as I approached the doors. The guards straightened immediately, bowing their heads as I passed.“My King.”I didn’t respond.I couldn’t.Not right now.The word felt even heavier than it had earlier.King.After what I saw tonight… after what she said…It didn’t feel like something I was.It felt like something I was expected to become. And I didn't want to.I moved through the corridors quickly, not stopping, not slowing. The palace was quiet, most of its occupants already asleep. The silence should have been calming.It wasn’t.By the time I reached the chamber, my hand paused on the door for just a second.Then I pushed it open.The room was dim, lit only by the soft glow of moonlight slipping through the curtains. My eyes moved immediately to the bed.Hope.She was

Last Updated : 2026-04-04