lac's

warm golden glow across my room. I blinked awake, the r

I desperately tried to look for her again. But still silence. This wasn't normal. I could feel her presence

oment, I allowed myself to bask in the normalcy of it all, the soft hum of conversation downstairs, the clinkin

the wooden floor as I made my way downstairs. The smells grew stronger as I descended, the rich buttery scent of pancakes mingling with the sharp tang of freshly brewed coff

p into the air. Ezra, my younger brother and the next in line to be the Royal Beta, sat beside him, his nose buried in a book. He was only a year younger than me, with the same dark

d up from his coffee. His eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled, and fo

returning his smile as I

ed another batch onto a plate. She turned, her eyes sweeping over me, and some

ly," she said, setting the plate in f

e naive girl who had once dreamed of fairy tales and happily-ever-afters. In her place stoo

id vaguely, offering her a smal

eneath my words, but she didn't press. Instead, she reached over to pour

g news playing in the background. I let myself sink into the comfort of it, into the rhythm of family, where the wo

to her cheek before grabbing my bag. Just as I rea

you off t

z

raised in open curiosity. He was still in his pajamas, some old band t-shirt and sw

said, waving a hand v

eated, his voice dripping with skeptici

trap of my bag. "Because

and stepping closer. "You're dressed like you're about to go

eyes. "Wow.

n, his expression turned teasing. "Wait, a

. "Absolu

ing his chest. "Oh my God. Are

he barely budged. "It is

g?" he shot back, grinnin

nied it, the worse it would look. I exhaled sharply,

"It's my job as yo

I groaned. But inside my heart, it

initely wiser

gged at my lips. This was Ezra, relentless, obnoxious, and so

ay was the day. Kael would be holding a conference here, a gathering of alphas and nobles to discuss

y to the podium. The plaza was already bustling with activity, the press setting up their camer

rlwind of energy, her curly hair bouncing with every step. She pulled me into a tight hug, her enthusiasm infectious. She wa

ftly as I returned her embrace.

grin. "I heard you were chosen as the future Alpha King's mate! Can you believe it? M

t her excitement. "Yeah, it's... someth

ghtly as she studied me. "You don't sound thr

e thought I wanted was the very thing I was trying to escape? "It's comp

placing her earlier concern.

leaning in closer. "I need you to get me access to the press

undimmed. "Consider it done. But yo

ugh me as she linked her arm with mi

first step in changing my fate. And with Elara by my side, I knew I could d

aybe, I would fin