hed heavily, collapsing onto my bed. My father remained silent for a
eep you safe," my wolf, Kira, i
y sat up and met his gaze. His silver eyes, bearing the weight of the Alpha King, seemed
"Well, you've
Alpha power, I couldn't completely escape the gravity of his prese
lf for an unproductive c
to do his job," he stated, his voice leaving no ro
pared for his enemies without the protection of a bodyguard, especially since I wasn't yet Queen. He clung to his ti
." I crossed my arms defiantly, letting my gaze
e on the bed. "Aurelia, this is the last thing I want. We
is words affected me. My desire to retain my dwindlin
His voice was laced with an em
maintained a stoic façade for the world-an unyielding Alpha King committed to his people's safety. Yet, to me
nger any longer, I frown
rn. "Tomorrow morning," he said, glancing briefly at his phone. His days were packed with the de
staying in my room to
lutely not," he stammered. "You'll move to a
little as possible," I said, lea
w, but only with your bodyguard. I'll have the maids come later to move your t
ese moments w
r. The lines of exhaustion on his face were evident, a testament to the toll of losing Mom. They had
heart clenching at the thought of losing
h a smirk, his silver eyes twinkling with that famili
s not on my agenda!" I called out as he headed for the d
e in the mirror reminded me of my mother. My raven hair cascaded in silky waves, and my curvy figure mirrore
had grown up together, and their friendship had been my anchor throughout my years as an only child. Though traditionally, the firstborn son would
amily, but Ember would be waiting for me in the gardens. I sent a qui
n. Surrounded by cities and towns under my father's rule, he comman
following rules remained a struggle-perhaps due to my Alpha blo
spots in the house were the garden and the expansive library. Mom used to get lost in the thous
itchen, which was large enough to host grand feasts. I ducked
od from our kitchen reached the less fortunate in town, and Dad continued this
d a warm chocolate chip muffin. Just as I
drop tha
with a dirty rag as a makeshift weapon. I gave her
r after my own mother's passing. She and Mom had
others. We commanded respect due to our Alpha blood but had n
air. It was my favorite season-the garden was alive with bloo
io. Vesper and I were the wild ones, and Ember often struggled to keep us in check. Although I was a full Lycan, Vesper and Ember were human.
colate curls bouncing with the movement. Her skin, the color of fres
ne of the chairs in the gazeb
's eyebrow arched, her gold
a knack for extracting information with just a look-her
appeared at the gazebo's steps, wheel
having breakfast here," Ember s
always met with a mix of respect and trepidation-everyone f
aid, returning her smile
ambled eggs in her dire
d to eat. I turned to the servan
," I said, offering them a warm smile. The staff had been with us for years, a
ve to say?" Ember asked, her ex
the chocolate chip muffin I had to leave behind. "H
ght," Ember chuckled, and I
the last thing I
e her a weary look. "What woul
hing about making him sleep in the same room
ard's potential attractiveness,
sausage, feeling a sense of happiness with Ember's company and the peaceful garden sur
g to the gardeners as we passed. I traced my fingers over the v
a moment? I'm in the library," m
d he couldn't see me. "I
aid reluctantly. "U
y. "I'll make sure the cart
a quick kiss on the cheek bef
each room held some grand secret. The library, with its dark oak doors, had once been a portal to worlds
rs and found Uncle Orion hunc
ne. Like everyone on my father's side, he had those striking sil
at him. "Y
difference, he resembled my father as he must have looked in his youth-less burdened by st
giants. Though Lycans were typically muscular, my
's plans for you," Uncle O
y feelings, even when he mo
uess all that traini
ll still come in handy if someone manages to slip past y
a plush couch. "I just hate havi
You're the heir to the Kingdom and his daugh
ean I have to like it," I
your mother." He seemed lost in a fond memory, and my heart ache
the bodyguard will be?" Orion
assumed it would be some war
e just any warrior," Orion said,
to irritation. "Dad would probably get me an en
ion agreed w
learn from Amara that she had gone to work. Ember worked
ed by. I wanted to make the most of my last day of
ared at the large door that separated me from where
more space, giving t
hen shuffled into the bathroom, which had been renovated over the years. Eac
enerous amount of vanilla bubble bath,
my fingers wrinkled. Feeling more at ease about the n
HOR
f 18. Unlike the normal stories of finding your mate based on