LA'

e, while William only watched with furr

. "If you're simply basing your conclusion on my scent, wha

y impossible. After all, Gallahan had knotted me twice. William had also sounded certain, and he wasn't

u disappeared for nearly a week before you returned home with a claiming bite. And while I hav

end an entire day with h

wed further. "Then where have

ly a minute, spending that stretc

ore, sounding more stern and more like our f

en when I opened them again, looking at our entwined hands instead of W

ed, mildly shaking me through the hand he had in

quipped, finally daring to meet my brother's eyes

ered, clearl

finish before yo

, and I almost smiled at ho

et a witch. Sarina. She was in the middle of collecting potion ingredients in the woods when I bumped into her. Long story short, she h

your gratitude," William grumbled sardonically

y, "So as thanks, I stayed with her for a couple more days t

pass. But only because you came home in one piece, and because there a

uld harshly rub my face out of frustration, fear a

een the League and the Culling Army. I am the second-in-co

has stripped you of your position as the second-in-command of the Peacemakers. You a

tbeat, and I could only pathetically st

as my mind reele

arly two years to be included in the exclusive group of Peacemakers, which my brother joined right off the bat. I

shoved back to

commander of the Peacemakers. I'

shocking news. "I... I understand why I would receive such a sanction, bu

gh over my sister in the cusp of her heat, letting her leave on her own when I could've had another woman in our troop a

I am so sorr

rmly for what we fight for, but don't you think we are too young to lead in th

lingered stubbornly, causing my lungs and hear

's fine, I promise you. So stop stres

ime. The first metaphorical bird was to distract me from the guilt I couldn't shake off, while the

ith him and said, "Ther

l spent some time with your fated mate,

chalance that I didn't really feel about the matter.

s pre

e familiar gruff voice, our necks snapping so quic

spered, anxiety

s I stared at the intimidating form of our

worsened by a recurring pain from past injury, he could still stand and appear imposing and mighty, oozing indubitable char

ustere face wore a cool and impassive expression th

attempted to explain, but William

pa, we

now what I heard. You were even making crude bets about such an important

was simply an attempt to downplay the severity

d shut the door gently behind him. Then he hobbled over to us, his

as he slowly took a seat on the bed,

ng position-my back against the headboard a

heat in the middle of battle. But it wasn't because I

nt happened then. You

y, and I deeply wished I

ven if I met him in battle

y. "Maybe you can be the rea

shoulder. "Grandpa, you are ask

e it sound like your fated ma

etray any kind of emotion. He remained quiet,

huh?" I replied, my voic

ack of my hand that laid limp

he is, Grandpa. I have chosen the right path, even if

ild? A fated mate is a

t the reminder of what I coul

for us yet. Maybe after the war is over, we cou

Grandpa agr

d comfortably among the three of us

ss. "William has a reason to believe you are pregnant?

g

k about this with our

e, I confessed, "I received a bite. But I... But the bond

to have a look at you. After all, it is best to err on the side of caution.

talk

know this already. There is a high chance you are truly with a child

erating with pride at the small ac

it stung him to be chastised by Grandpa, especially since the two of us looked up

knocks stole our attention.

young assistant, called out loudly. "A missive fr