MILLIE BROWN

My eyes flutter open, and I find my head pressed against a chest, his arms wrapped securely around me. The warmth and comfort enveloping me belong to Caelum, who is still asleep beside me. He held me all night, his fingers threading gently through my hair, whispering reassurances over and over. "Everything will be fine," he kept saying, a promise that felt fragile yet desperately needed.

Shane never returned—not that I wanted him to. It was simply an observation. Verran, though, stood vigil just outside the door, his unwavering presence casting a long, silent shadow.

I shift carefully, and the small movement causes Caelum to stir. He rolls onto his back, releasing his hold on me, but my head still rests against his left arm, which lies stretched beneath me. The sight before me holds me captive: his golden hair falls in loose strands around his face, framing features that had to be carved by some ancient, ethereal hand. He exuded a mysticism that no disguise could conceal. His high cheekbones and defined jaw give him an otherworldly allure, while his porcelain white skin catches the morning light, shimmering with a warmth that feels nearly divine.

I hover a hand over his face, hesitant yet unable to resist tracing his features with my gaze. Shadows of fatigue linger under his eyes—deep, inescapable worry etched even in the lines of sleep. His long lashes rest on his cheeks, and his lips, soft and heartbreakingly human, quiver slightly as though caught in a dream.

My heart clenches as I remember that he stayed up all night to comfort me. He did it even though he didn't have to, even though I was nothing but a burden—a stranger who had crashed into his world and upended his peace. My fingers, gentle and reverent, tuck a stray lock of golden hair behind his ear. The gesture feels intimate, too much, but I can't seem to pull away. When my fingertips accidentally brush against his cheek, his eyes slowly open, their warm gold meeting mine.

A soft smile spreads across his lips, and he catches my hand in his, holding it against his cheek. My pulse races, a wild and unpredictable rhythm that I can't control. It's not the same kind of connection I have with Shane. That connection feels like a volcano, restless and ready to erupt—a relentless, destructive force simmering beneath the surface.

Being near Shane is like standing on the brink of an explosion, the air thick with the potential for devastation. But with Caelum, it's different. It's like a river, flowing smooth and serene, full of quiet strength and life. Calm, but undeniably powerful.

A blush warms my cheeks as Caelum lifts my hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to my knuckles. But then he whispers, "Sylvia," and my heart shatters. His grip tightens on my hand as he rubs it softly against his cheek, a tear escaping from his closed eyes. My stomach twists, and I pull my hand back, cradling it against my chest. He murmurs her name again, lost in his dream, and I can only watch, stunned and aching.

Before I can think too deeply about it, I reach out, covering his eyes with my palm. I don't know why I do it, but the action feels right, like a balm against the hurt. The melody he once sang to me floats into my mind, as familiar as if it had always lived there.

Without thinking, I begin to hum, my voice trembling yet steadying as the lullaby weaves around us. The lines of worry smooth from his face, and he relaxes completely, sinking into a peaceful sleep. A strange energy hums through me, like the warmth I felt when I approached Reed. But then my heart jolts in sudden, brutal remembrance.

Reed! Panic swells within me, and horror crashes over me. How could I have forgotten him? Everything had become so chaotic, but the thought of Reed being hurt—no, there was no way they had killed him. I have to believe that. I would ask Caelum to save him when he woke up.

Caelum remains asleep as I carefully untangle myself from him and tiptoe to the door. The moment I step outside, Verran appears from nowhere, his sudden presence making me jump.

"My lady," he greets, dropping to one knee, one hand over his chest in a gesture of fealty.

"Okay, stop doing that," I say, pressing a hand to my pounding heart.

"Yes, my lady," he replies, remaining in his overly formal pose.

"And that, too," I add, pointing at his kneeling form. He stands immediately but keeps his gaze respectfully averted.

I sigh and begin walking through the winding hallways, every few steps glancing back to see him trailing a short distance behind. "You don't have to follow me," I say, exasperated. "I don't plan on running."

He offers no response, his face impassive as he continues to shadow my steps. The reality of Shane's command hits me again—Verran is here to ensure I don't escape. It's both comforting and suffocating.

Eventually, I find my way to the kitchen, guided by memories of following Shane here. The recollection of our kiss stabs at my heart, and I grit my teeth, refusing to let it linger. I hate it. I keep repeating that to myself—I hate it. But the lie feels thin.

I reach the cupboard and pull out the coffee beans Shane had shown me that day. When I turn around, Verran remains stationed a few feet away, watching me like a silent sentinel.

"Coffee?" I ask, if only to break the heavy silence.

He shakes his head. "No, thank you. A while back, Alpha Shane had an obsession with making coffee, and I had to be the tester. The smell of it now makes me sick."

A surprised laugh slips from me, and I can almost picture Shane forcing Verran to taste one failed batch after another. The image is absurdly domestic, and it warms me, despite everything. I wonder if Shane ever dreamed of being a barista or if it was just one of his hobbies. But the thought twists painfully when I remember what he is now.

Verran clears his throat, and I quickly smother my smile, replacing it with a frown. "Will Shane be coming today?" I ask, though I'm not sure I want to know. The memory of him walking away from me and Caelum slices through me. His expression, that raw, wounded look—did he misunderstand what he saw? And even if he did, why did it matter so much to me?

"I don't think so," Verran replies. "He has an appointment with the tailors today to be fitted for his kurrin garb." The name rings foreign, a reminder of the traditions in this place.

"What's that?" I ask.

"A ceremonial garment worn on the day of the mating ritual," Verran explains. "His in-laws will be arriving today for the sahrena feast, a banquet introducing the families before the mating ceremony."

I freeze. "In-laws? You mean Leah's family?"

He nods. "Yes, Alpha Shane will meet them at the border and escort them in grand procession."

A sinking feeling grips me. Leah's father—Alex. The man who was trying to have me killed. "Is it possible they've already arrived?" I ask, the coffee beans grinding loudly in the background.

Verran shrugs. "I don't think so. They are scheduled to arrive at Lupinmere today. Alpha Shane will greet them at the border, as tradition demands."

The memory of Alex, hooded and shadowed, returns to me. He must have sneaked into this place. My mind races. Could Leah have any idea about her father's intentions? There was no way she could know that he was trying to have me killed... right?

I busy myself with the coffee maker, trying to clear the whirlwind in my mind. Leah must be oblivious, surely. But if Alex had known his daughter was to be Shane's mate, why visit me that day in my cell? Why not expose the truth? None of this made sense.

"You seem troubled," Verran observes. "Is there any way I can help?"

I force a small smile. "Why was Leah chosen, anyway? Why did Shane pick her?"

Verran looks confused, as though the answer is obvious. "The mate pull," he says, and I frown. Seeing my expression, he sighs and begins to explain. "Wolves are born with half of a crescent moon mark, representing the blessing of Kalareth, the moon goddess. Each wolf is destined for a soulmate, and the mate pull is the magic that binds them. It's like an unbreakable thread calling their souls together, impossible to resist or ignore. When it strikes, it consumes you completely. You can't fight it."

The words send a shiver through me, leaving an unsettling prickle under my skin. "So... Leah is Shane's other half?" I whisper.

He nods solemnly.

My voice wavers. "And Leah's family... why are they so accepting of all this?"

"It's a great honor," Verran says. "Especially since Leah's mother, Krista, comes from the noble House of Viradelle, a family sworn to serve the Alpha lineage."

Viradelle. The name strikes a painful chord. Leah had always said her mother was from a humble village in Norgan. "Wait," I breathe, "Leah's a wolf?"

"Technically, she's half-wolf," Verran clarifies. "Her father is human."

I stand there, the coffee forgotten, a tremor spreading through me. Was my entire life a lie? My mother, a witch. My best friend, half-wolf. And krista, she was a full wolf. The lie she'd spun about coming from a small village in Norgan where she and Alex had supposedly met felt like another betrayal.

And me? I didn't even know what I was. A bitter laugh escapes my lips at the absurdity of it all.

Three months ago, I never could have imagined this reality.

If Leah had known about this world all along, why had she kept it from me? Why had she pretended she couldn't see him that night? She must have been aware of what was happening in Allister. So why hadn't she come back? If she was a werewolf, why didn't she stop Shane from killing Mom that day? Why had Mom hidden everything from me, especially if it was part of my identity? And why hadn't she ever spoken about my father? Was he connected to all this too? Was he still alive?

"You wouldn't happen to know who my father is?" I ask, my voice careful. I'd convinced myself it was better not to know. He'd abandoned Mom and me, and there was no use digging up that old hurt. I had been content with just Mom.

"I'm sorry, but I'm still looking into it," he says, and that piques my curiosity.

"Looking into it? On whose orders?" I press.

"Alpha Shane. I can stop if you don't want me to," he replies, and his response surprises me. Didn't he say he only took orders from his Alpha?

"Why would you stop just because I asked?" I question, confused.

"Because your wish is my command," he says, his eyes faintly glowing gold. It's the same thing he'd said that night, and he's been acting strange ever since.

Cautiously, I step forward, and he mirrors me, taking a step in my direction. I step back, and he does the same. My eyes widen. "Sit," I say experimentally, and he sits. "Stand," I command, and he rises immediately, watching me.

No way. Had I done this to him? Made him a puppet who followed my every word?

"So you'll do whatever I tell you, whenever I tell you to do it?" I say, and he nods. My blood runs cold. Did I really have that kind of power?

I'm not sure how to break whatever spell I've cast, but the idea of having someone truly on my side, spellbound or not, is too tempting to ignore. Trust was a scarce resource, and I needed any advantage I could get.

"What other orders did Shane give you?" I ask, unsure if he'll even respond. How strong was this spell? Strong enough to force him to tell me things he'd been loyal enough to keep from me before?

"He wanted me to look into Esme and find out every detail I could about her," he says.

Mom? Shane was investigating Mom? Why?

"Why? Is it related to why he killed her?" I ask, and Verran's eyes snap to mine. Shane had always avoided that question. And Clara had hinted that there had to be a reason.

"From what I understand, the witch Esme was killed on counts of treason," he replies.

"Treason?" I echo, my heart thudding.

"For using dark arts to conspire against Alpha Shane, by mimicking a mate pull to her daughter and nearly costing the Alpha his true awakening," he says.

My mind blanks. The final piece of the puzzle slots into place, and Shane's actions suddenly make terrible, perfect sense.

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yipppe, Millie is finally asking the right questions and finally finding things out. I'm so excited........ so much more to be unraveled. Can't wait and see y'all next chapter. Love you and don't forget to vote and comment. Bye ❤️