asting golden streaks across the small, modest room.

iet

ano

voice, followed by the creak of

e woven blankets. Her dark curls fanned ac

voice reached her again, softe

edside. "Sera?" Her voice rasped from sl

as she sat on the edge of the bed. "Cou

ew. You usually cherish your extra ho

aid, chuckling. "But... I

ht edge of tension tucked beneath the c

she asked, sit

ly. Instead, she fiddled with the

ed, arms folded loosely across her lap. Her tone was casua

" she asked, alm

ked. "Luck

"Don't play coy with me

sking if I've met my mate..." She gave a short laugh that didn't quite reach her e

tely. Her fingers began tugging

dboard, watching her closely. "Yo

hesitated. "With everything changing

d her head.

t night. I heard my uncle talking about it before sunrise." She paused, lowering h

"The Thorne K

hine

r, the bedsheets falli

rrowing. "Thorne isn't supposed to return for

half-concerned, half knowi

been sent away at thirteen. He was the heir, yes, but he had vanished into the Eastern Wastes to 'train' und

owhere, he wa

t. "Why would they call him back so s

of her cheek before she leaned in a littl

he whispered. "They

d. "He asked

her

father. Worse, even. That he's cold. Unyielding. He detests weakness. Doesn't tolera

landed l

to the sheets. "That's just a rumor," s

nswer immediately.

"Oh and before I forget," she said like it was a minor detail, though her eyes

in the fog of what Seraphine

me him, o

come

"Thorne. Kaelen. Drayce

lackened. "Yo

ding into something heavier. "Every able-bodied member of the pack is expec

watchful gaze of a cold, ruthless Alpha one rumored to ha

things and leaving before sundown. Because if the rumors are tru

stomach

forehead. "Oh moonstones I almost forgot! My mum's herbal pou

but gave a small nod. "You should go before

toward the door. "You're not wrong.

soft smile. "W

The quiet of the room returned, pressing down like the thick weight of fate

h her feet. Her body still ached with the uncertainty of not knowing. No mate. N

hair, muttering under her breath, "Alr

ward the wash basin. Her reflection looked

th a quiet determination, washing up and slipping into her soft, moss-green tunic and a woven sash arou

aid, letting wisps frame her face. Her boots were worn, but sturdy, and as she tugged t

e scent of honey bread and p

he calle

t girl," came

ing herbal broth. Her silvery hair was braided in the back, and her

p later t

admitted, stepping into the

Let me guess. She came

bench by the window. "And to drop a bomb. She said...

tbeat, Isolde didn't respond. Then sh

it's

asn't supposed to return

ing changed. His father sent word two moon

ked, her voice

nd cupped Elira's cheek gently. "Some storms arrive before we're

ue what they say? That he's...

d what truth is don't always match. But I won'

e pot. "Great. Just what I need. A power

sed a kiss to her forehead.

thing in her mother's calm steadiness

thought she'd bow, he

ghts drifted to the night before Liana had seemed a little off. Elira hadn't wanted

up. "Did Liana stop by? May

g back to her stirring. "No, darling

ogether. "That's strang

gly. "She never misses your m

d a laugh

, but still..." Isolde turned, her tone softening. "You know how t

her tunic. "You're right. I'll go now. Some

th a wrinkle in Elira's sleeve. "Trust your in

er cheek. "I w

ng sun, a subtle tension danced at the edge of h

ng into. But if Liana was in troub

arly morning dew. The chirping birds offered their daily greeting, but Elira barely heard the

s curling around its edges like sleepy arms. She approa

led, pressing he

l no

e handle, then turned it sl

s... normal.

teppe

ndow, the worn rug beneath the small dining table, the lingering smell

case toward the bedroom. The

ising and falling steadily in sleep. Her face was calm peaceful, even b

loser, cautious

she whispe

s

. No hurried notes. No messy packing. Nothing

" Elira murmured, backing

eeping woman, she pulled the

She hugged her arms tightly arou

wrong. She c

miliar scent of thyme and lavender greeting her like a warm hug. Her mot

er mum said, without tur

Not exactly. I went to the house. Everything looked... n

er mother'

dn't re

d. Nothing. She was just... there. Sleeping

You know how hard she works with her hands gathering herbs, drying roots, run

asn't there. And she didn't say

ybe she went out early to run an errand for her m

umbled, though her

o stop letting your imagination run wild. A long nap and an empty h

ant nod. "Yeah. You

de her whispered: