One hundred-one

Astrid’s POV“I made the decision of my own free will —”“While dying from a degrading mate bond, under documented psychological stress with no family support, isolated from everyone who knew you amd entirely dependent on the man asking you to marry him.” Ian listed each point with oointed precision. “Doesn’t sound like free will sounds like desperation.”Something cracked in my chest. Becauss from a certain angle it sounds so exactly right and I hated that.“I was—”“You were what? Desperate? Afraid? Willing to accept any option that kept you alive? Which is exactly what someone being manipulated into an agreement would say.” He raised a brow. “I chose him because —” I stopped.“Because why?” Davian pressed his voice completely stripped of warmth. “Give the Council a reason that doesn’t sound like survival instinct overriding rational thought.”Because the heart I thought almost died was more alive than ever and its pumping too much blood at the thought of him. Something in my face

One hundred-two

Astrid’s POVThe evidence room was different from the war room. It was way smaller and quieter, lined with filing cabinets and shelving units holding years of documentation. A single long table dominated the center, covered in stacks of files Davian’s intelligence team had compiled.It looked like someone had spent months building this case. Because someone did.Davian was already there when I arrived in the morning, sleeves rolled up and coffee in hand, reviewing documents. He looked up when I entered.“Close the door.”I did, taking the chair across from him. The table between us was covered in files organized by category. “We’re going through everything today. All of it. Anthony’s crimes, evidence we have, gaps we still need to fill.” He slid a thick folder across to me. “Start with the massacre documentation. I want you to know every detail before the hearing.”I opened the folder and started reading. The first document was a timeline. Anthony Riftclaw’s movements in the weeks be

One hundred & three

Astrid’s POV6AM came with pale light filtering through the curtains and my body was already awake before my alarm. I feel restless with energy that has nowhere to go.I’d been sleeping better since Silvermist. Running through those ancient forests on four white paws and feeling the land recognize something in me it has been waiting for. The nightmares haven’t disappeared entirely but they’ve lost their teeth. I dressed in training clothes and padded through the connecting door to Davian’s quarters without knocking, which had somehow become normal over the past week. The gym was empty when I arrived but warm which meant he’s been here already and left. Or he was coming.I started without him. Stretching first, taking time with it instead of rushing to the real work. My body has become something I was genuinely grateful for lately. Way stronger every day, more capable, responding to demands I put on it with ease.Serra’s latest check showed my Alpha blood was fully active now. My wol

One hundred & four

Astrid’s POVHis hand moved from my stomach to my waist. It was a shift so small and so significant at the same time. But I felt it from the tip of my head down to my toes. “This is –” he started.“Complicated.” I finished trying hard not to make my words breathy.“I was going to say inevitable.” His voice was rough. “But complicated works too.”My hand came up and rested against his chest, feeling his heart beating faster than his controlled exterior suggested. The realness of that, the evidence that this affected him as much as it affected me, killed the last of my resistance.“Davian,” I called quietly but it carried everything I hadn’t been able to say yet.He lifted his other hand and touched my face, his thumb tracing my cheekbone the way he’s done before but different now. Its lke he was giving himself permission he’s been withholding.“I’ve been trying to give you time to figure it out on your own terms. Not to push.” He rasped staring at me like I was from another realm. “I

One hundred & five

Astrid’s POVI finally found my footing again by noon. Or at least I found something that looked like footing from a distance. Inside I was still quietly thunking about almost kissing Davian in the gym, replaying the moment on a loop and alternating between gratitude that Mara had interrupted and genuine anger about the same thing.Mostly resentment if I was honest. Duh. I dressed for lunch in one of the simpler outfits from my growing wardrobe and told myself to focus on what mattered. Not the way Davian’s hand had felt against my face or what he’d said about inevitable. Definitely not that.The main corridor leading to the dining hall was busy at midday, staff and warriors moving. I’ve learned the palace way enough that faces were becoming familiar, some of them offering small nods of acknowledgment as I passed.I was almost at the dining hall when I heard Cora’s voice from a side corridor.“—been impossible to get ten minutes with you this week.” Her tone was light but carried a

One hundred & six

Astrid’s POVMy eyes locked on a piece of paper as soon as I entered my room. The note was on my pillow when I got back to my quarters after dinner.There no envelope or signature. It’s just a folded piece of paper sitting in the middle of my bed like someone has walked right into my private space and left it there on purpose. Which meant they probably did.I stood there staring at it for a second before picking it up. The handwriting was neat. Definitely from someone who didn’t want to be recognized but has the confidence to take their time.-“We know what you did at Riftclaw. The documents you signed. The alliances you helped build. The pack decisions you were part of. We have everything. Pull your claim before the hearing or we release it all to the Council. You won’t just lose Silvermist. You’ll be charged as Anthony’s accomplice. You have 48 hours.”I read it twice then I sat on the bed and read it a third time because my brain needed a moment to catch up with what my eyes were s