pte

d Fl

na'

ow, staring out at the endless fields and forests that stretched beyond the castle. To anyone else, the sight mig

t my new life felt foreign: the castle, the title, even the ring on my finger. I twisted it absentm

mate gift from the Moon Goddess. It was supposed to bring joy, to unite two souls as on

asked f

d he, from the

Over the past three days, we had hardly spoken, and when we did, it was brief, businesslike. H

idn't eve

far grander than anything I'd ever known in my father's pack. A grand bed with silk sheets, intricately carved furn

thoughts. My heart leaped in my chest, even

opened the door slightly and peeked inside. "The Alph

om. I wasn't sure if it was out of indifference or discomfort, but I hadn't minded the solitude. Now, the thought of si

King, and I was his queen. Even if nei

ing a smile. "Thank you

It was a deep blue-Quinton's favorite color, or so I'd been told by one of the maids. The gown hugged my figur

tered to myself as I stared at my r

, had

ought of him-of the love I'd lost, the promises he'd broken-it was like a knife twisting

asn't here. He wasn't the one I was bound to. That ro

my footsteps echoing off the stone walls as I walked down the grand corridors. Every inch of this place felt too l

guards stationed outside bowed slightly and opened th

n I entered, his piercing eyes locking onto mine. For a moment, the weight of his gaze

smooth, though there was no warmth

pression neutral. "You

flicker of amusement crossin

a canyon. It was almost laughable, the distance-both physical and emotion

vegetables, and delicate pastries. The servants moved silently, placing mor

he silence grew heavier with each passing

but steady. "You've avoided eatin

ly as he set down his glass. "

ut w

meet his eyes, though I forced myself to. "We're mat

suddenly dry. "I didn't thin

"But that doesn't change the fact that we're bound by it. Whether we want it or not,

ng just beneath the surface. "So, that's it? We just a

iona. I'm asking you to understand. The Mate Bond isn't so

this? I had a life before you-someone I loved, someone who cared abou

frustration, or maybe even pain. "You think this is easy for

k, but his words stopped me c

t sure

me. "I don't resent you," I whispered, barely loud enough fo

he finally spoke, his voice was softer

ession was unreadable, but there was a flicker of somethi

ck in his chair. "But that doesn't mean we have to be ene

nd I knew it. I had spent so much time fighting this, fighting him, that I hadn't consi

ybe the only way forwa

be your enemy,"

expression remained guarded. "Good. B

to ease, just a little. It wa

us and more like the space we needed to figure out what came next. I wasn't sure what the future held for us-whet

hat our time together was over. I rose as well, feelin

iona," he said

"Good nigh

something had shifted between us tonight. It wasn't much, but it was enough to

we could even le