#REVERSE HAREM

Damon rolled the parchment, slid it away. "I won't touch you tonight," he said softly. "Not because I don't want to (gods know I do), but because I want you to choose. When you're ready. When you understand what's coming."

He turned toward the door. Paused.

"One more thing," he said without looking back. "Aiden is drafting an order to bring you to the palace as a 'personal guest.' Blake is preparing to kidnap you before that order is signed. Caleb will probably try to hide you in the northern legions." A faint, tired laugh. "We're already tearing ourselves apart, and you've done nothing but exist."

He opened the door. Rain lashed in.

"Whatever you decide, little Heartbinder… decide soon. Because the storm outside is nothing compared to the one following your scent."

He stepped into the darkness and was gone.

Caleb let out a long, shaky breath. He turned to me, eyes wild. "We ride north tonight. My men will protect you."

I stared at the empty doorway where Damon had vanished.

Ten Alphas of the same blood.

Ten princes.

My knees finally gave out. I sank into the hay, soaked to the bone, heart pounding so hard I could barely hear the thunder anymore.

From somewhere deeper in the woods, very far away, a wolf howled, long and mournful, like it already knew the ending.

And under the roar of the storm, I swear I heard more hooves approaching.

Chapter 54 - The circles reckoning