It's been five long years, and she's still being treated like royalty.

his son had developed with Dara. It wasn't some fleeting obsession. It was as if she had become a part of Leo, like an extension of h

vel. "I suspect it won't last forever. In three years, they'll both be si

long time. You've spoiled your son too much, Alpha. Have you trul

through the room. "I do not forget, Bayle," he snapped. "Her entire pack has be

But inside, he seethed. He thought Ruidiger was growing soft, too indulge

her way, but not Bayle. Never Bayle. He vowed to keep hating

-

,'" Dara read aloud, her voice animated and filled with mischief.

t into a fit of giggles, the

Lily chimed in, wipi

ent later, hopping up to her feet. "We're loo

before she could get too lost in thought, Leo reac

a," he said wit

his smile i

Leo rested comfortably on his back, and Dara's head was nestled against his chest. The

ages flashed behind her lids-haunting, vivid, and compl

asked, his fingers threadi

d shook her head. "No

Aren't you supposed to be at training right now?"

feel like going. I wa

voice serious. "And how exactly do you plan

his feet, suddenly full of ener

gesture that never failed to leave her flustered. Her chee

ast two months-little displays of affection

th the tree. But something had changed in her expression. The bright,

fully comfor

ook up. She alrea

yl

im, eyes fixe

uestion," he snapped. His hand cla

aight in the eyes.

she said in a low, warning tone, "

ly masked frustration. Dara straightened her clothes with quiet comp

in this pack," Bayle spat, voice low an

un on his heel and walked away, his f

t. Her fingers still trembled faintly where he'd gripped her, but no mark remained. She silently thank

sion, something caged and claimed. But slowly, almost imperceptibly, something h

tter than to get

ame when he grew tired of her-when he discarded her like everything els

cision, long ago. Before that

fond of him, escape was he

-

ara's room was just down the hall from Leo's. After their usual playful banter and shar

ra," he said, his voice ge

y, shaking her he

aled. A strange unease began to creep over her. She moved

res

-and her breath ca

im light of the room was n

ly, her hands trembling. "Luna... I wasn't expecting you. To what do I o

ra. "I thought Leo would lose interest in you after five months," she said f

e to find the right words. H

ping closer. "I don't like how much he clings t

ropped, ic

n accord and never return... or die, quietly and withou

floor, her voice breaking. "Please, Luna...

row. "So you've mad

lips trembling. "I

etta's lips. "Good. Then le

at the door, casting one l

for my son, the t

n she w

ad to toe. A thousand thoughts raced throug

ad to

alness of their bond. The

ival cam

uth no one in this p

ory and the promise she ma