جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 300

Victoria felt slightly crushed beneath him, but she didn't mind—there was a strange comfort in the way he held her like this, as if even in exhaustion, he couldn't bear to let her go.Maxwell looked completely spent, his strength drained after their intense union, just like what had happened to Sylas and Carlisle before him. It was as if claiming her in this way took something from them…While the others were drained, Victoria felt brimming with power and enveloped in a warm, comforting energy, making her feel even more guilty. But unlike the others, Maxwell still had the strength to smirk as he looked at her."Tori, that was amazing..." he said, his voice light and breathy, his smile making Victoria's heart skip a beat. He slowly shifted to the side to give her some space to catch her breath, then gently pulled her into his arms, savoring her warmth."Tori, I can't seem to get enough of you... Can we do it again?" he asked, surprising her.It genuinely seemed like Maxwell still had t

After the attendant finished preparing everything for Victoria, she handed the magic bag filled with supplies to Maxwell, who accepted it with a curt nod. Once everything was ready, he gently scooped Victoria into his arms.Then, reluctantly, he called over two Royal Guards and ordered them to carry Carlisle and Sylas. The two were still fast asleep, and truth be told, Maxwell would have preferred to leave them behind.It was the perfect opportunity to have Victoria all to himself, just the two of them, with no love rivals in the way. If Carlisle and Sylas missed out, it would be their fault for oversleeping. As the saying goes, the early bird catches the worm. But as much as the idea tempted him, Maxwell knew better.The mission ahead was bound to be dangerous and exhausting. Bringing the other two might actually prove useful, and barring them from joining Victoria would only make him seem petty and insecure. That wasn't who he wanted to be, not as an alpha, not as a leader, and not

As soon as the caravan came to a halt, Victoria jumped down from the front of the cart and stretched her stiff body. By now, she had already sorted through her thoughts.The confusion from the night before had settled, replaced by focus as she scanned the area and mentally reviewed their route. Just as her feet hit the ground, Maxwell approached and handed her his water flask, made from animal hide.Without pretense, Victoria accepted it and took a grateful sip of the cool water. Nearby, a shallow, gently flowing river offered the others a place to replenish their supplies and wash away the dust from the long journey.Maxwell left Victoria for a moment, and when he returned, he was carrying a massive boulder. The muscles in his arms flexed with the effort, veins standing out across his arms, neck, and forehead.Victoria had no idea what he planned to do with such a heavy rock until he set it down near the campfire and motioned for her to sit. He was worried she might catch a cold.Tho

A wave of emotion stirred within her. Maybe all those years of doing everything alone, of being the strong, capable, independent woman she had to be, had left her lonelier than she ever wanted to admit."…Thank you," Victoria murmured, lowering her gaze to hide the sudden vulnerability in her eyes.Carlisle also came over to sit with them around the campfire, though his mind was preoccupied with countless thoughts. He remained quiet throughout the meal, lost in contemplation.Meanwhile, Sylas and Maxwell sat on either side of Victoria, attentively fussing over her as if terrified she might choke on a tiny fish bone—or even her own saliva. Honestly, it looked a little crowded and overbearing, but deep down, Victoria felt a gentle warmth. She smiled as she ate, chatting with them between bites.Not long after, Lance approached and attempted to squeeze in between them, but Sylas and Maxwell blocked him without a word, like two immovable boulders guarding their treasure. Lance could only

As Victoria listened to both sides, she realized they each had valid points. She stepped closer to study the map. Though she hadn't had much interaction with the Western regions and her dealings were mostly with the neighboring packs in the East but she had grown familiar with reading maps and listening to the travel stories of merchants who journeyed far and wide.Her gaze settled on a key point: the crossroads they would encounter later today. From there, the path split into three distinct routes.The left route, favored by the coachmen, cut directly between two cliffs. It was the shortest road, no doubt, but also dangerously narrow, an ideal place for an ambush. The guards' concerns made perfect sense.The right route circled around the mountain. It was the most commonly used path, and it was wide, secure, and well-traveled. However, it was significantly longer. Taking that road meant they would likely have to set up camp for the night at the foot of the mountain before continuing