rd the distant horizon, where the darkening sky met the jagged silhouette of the mountain ranges that bordered her kingdom. The stars above seemed impo

liance with the Kingdom of Shadows-the most powerful and dangerous of the surrounding realms-was her only chance to secure peace.

queen and a warrior, made her feel trapped. She was no princess. She didn't care for crowns or lavish ceremonies. But as the Queen o

mething more-something less about duty and more abo

tone. Runa's senses sharpened, and her body tensed as she turned toward the source of the soun

, his broad shoulders relaxed yet commanding, his blue eyes glowing in the faint light. He didn't say a w

a handful of times, the tension between them was already palpable. The Alpha Wolf. The Queen of Light. Their kingdoms at odds. Their fate

st expected," Runa finally spoke, her v

hint of amusement. He stepped closer, closing the distance between them. "It's not

understanding that seemed to settle between them. "I don't need your company," she said, he

on unreadable. "I don't expect you to welcome it. Bu

You have no business here, Asher. The alliance-your presence i

u really think?" he asked, his voice soft but edged with something deeper. "You think

something in the way he looked at her stopped her. There was no malice in his eyes-only the quiet understanding of

at you want, Asher. You came here to disrupt everything. To destroy

at her side. "No, I don't care about your people.

ith an emotion she refused to acknowledge. "Don't

me there was no anger in her eyes, only a mixture of confusion and frustration. She hated the way

said, her voice shaking just slightly. "We'

ith an intensity that was almost suffocating.

rn she felt a pulse of energy in the very air between them. It was as if t

r mouth, she felt the truth of them unraveling. Deep down, in the deepe

id. "But the truth has a way of revealin

in her chest, her thoughts spinning in a whirl of confusion. She hated this-hated that Asher's presence unsettled her so. H

standing on the balcony, her chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. She had faced wars, battles, and threats that w

together? Or was it something deeper, s

she realized that whatever this was between them-whatever dan