DRAVE

whispered power plays and hidden allegiances. As the Alpha heir, I had walked these corridors since I could shift, but today so

r here, protocol dictated that I stick to my own territory, socialize with heirs and Elders' children, solidify the

owed within, spilling down the stone corrido

soft mutter of words

r open just enou

profile bathed in dawn light, shoulders hunched against an invisible weight. Her hair fell across he

He crouched beside her, hands resting lightly on her knees. He spoke quietly, his words lost in the soft rustle of dawn through ivy-

rashed over me, guilt,

to me. Aria's expression hardened, icy blue eyes cold as the winter mo

the door behind me, earning a sharp glanc

r, as though curling into herself might shield her from

't coming here to speak with him. I..." My throat t

came for me," she repeate

cleared my throat. "I came bec

creaking beneath him. "You d

ure Alpha, expected to carry my family's legacy on my shoulders. But Elias's words reminded

a steady look. "I

te. She folded her arms, meeting my gaze head-on. For a heartbeat, we stood l

s," she said finally. "I ne

but I nodded onc

o retort, but Elias cl

with a sharp l

pride, years of training for this moment, reduced to a single look

I heard

head, fighting something inside, I hesitated, the second he

?" she whispered,

truth. "Because when I rejected you, I killed part of

ifted beside her, offering

ng breath. "You made

ore the bond, shattered everything, I convinced myself I wa

cted fury. I realized then how much I had

he pressed. "Why n

hirt, every instinct screaming to reach for her sca

and I couldn't" I swallowed. "I couldn't accept that I co

the faintest tremor at the corn

n. "You have my word, Aria. I'

eld my gaze steadily, both of us recognizing that loy

he said softly. "Fine, Kael Draven, you humiliated me in front of ever

as young," I confessed. "Blinded by ambition, I thought I could protect o

"You made up y

ead. "I did

unmake the momen

But I plan to sta

was hollow

I'm going to prove to you that I understand how to be an Alpha.

moment, then she expelled

rsh this time, I gave a cu

he door, Elias cal

ck, Aria had stepped as

e with solemn gra

ed. "Fo

toward Aria.

heavy in my ches

leaving two figures silhouetted in dawn light, the girl I

pered into the empty air, "I will not fail you ag