For a brief moment, everything stilled.
Eyes followed. They always did. I didn't rush. I never did.
My heels met the gravel with measured grace, the faint crunch beneath them grounding me as I lifted my gaze—and this time, I truly took in the setting.
The alliance meet wasn't held in any kingdom.
It was neutral ground.
A vast natural clearing stretched before us, ancient trees rising like silent guardians along its borders. Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, scattering gold across the earth, while the scent of pine and damp soil lingered in the air. No banners claimed dominance here. No territory marked control.
No one ruled this land. Which meant everyone tried to.
Wooden pathways had been laid carefully across the terrain, leading toward a grand boardroom structure ahead—crafted from dark timber and glass. Open enough to let the forest breathe through it, yet contained enough to hold power within its walls.
Strategic.
Balanced.
Dangerous.
"Careful," Alexander drawled beside me. "If you look any more intimidating, half the Alphas might surrender before the meeting even begins."
"That would certainly save us a few hours," I murmured.
He glanced ahead, voice lowering just enough to be for me alone. "Though they wouldn't know who they're surrendering to."
I arched a brow. "That's because they split power."
"King and Queen hold the throne," he said. "Alpha and Luna hold the pack."
"Two centers of control," I added. "Constantly negotiating. Constantly clashing."
A faint smirk touched his lips. "I've always found that inefficient."
"As do I."
My gaze swept across the delegations ahead. "Royalty governs politics. Alphas govern strength."
"And when those disagree," Alexander said quietly, "they stall."
I exhaled softly. "Which is why they hesitate."
His tone sharpened, almost imperceptibly. "Aurelion doesn't hesitate."
No.
Because in Aurelion—
There was no separation.
The King was the Alpha.
The Queen was the Luna.
Power didn't sit in different hands. It stood united. One rule. One command. One will. Which meant while the others debated—
We decided.
And they knew it.
We walked.
Power brushed past us in waves—kings, queens, alphas, lunas, betas—each layered, each divided, each trying to look whole.
We weren't.
We were something else.
And they knew it.
But halfway down the path—
Something… snapped.
Not outside.
Inside.
A sudden, sharp tug in my chest.
I stiffened.
Oh.
Not now.
Not here.
"Do you feel that?" I muttered internally.
My wolf, Nyra—who had been suspiciously quiet all morning—perked up instantly.
Feel what? she asked, far too innocently.
"That," I said flatly. "That weird—pulling—tugging—annoying sensation like someone hooked my ribcage with a string."
A pause.
Then—
Oh.
"Don't 'oh' me," I snapped internally, keeping my face perfectly composed as we passed another delegation.
"Explain."
Another pause.
Longer this time.
Then—
Nope.
I blinked.
"Nope?"
Not my department.
"You are literally the department."
Incorrect, she said smugly. I handle instincts, violence, and dramatic entrances. This feels… suspiciously emotional. That's on you.
I almost stumbled.
"On me?!"
Exactly.
Another tug.
Stronger.
Insistent.
"This is not happening today."
Agreed, she said immediately.
A beat.
Then—
…unless it's him.
"Him?"
I don't know, Nyra said. I just have a feeling.
"That is not reassuring."
It's exciting though.
"This is an alliance meeting, not a festival."
Same thing. Just with better dressed enemies.
We approached the first group. The King and Queen of Dravenmoor. Formal greetings were exchanged—measured nods, carefully chosen condolences, grief polished into something presentable.
We moved on.
The King and Queen of Lunaris.
More grace. More restraint. More words that meant everything and nothing at once.
And then—
The King and Queen of Varkos.
Something shifted beside me. Subtle. Almost unnoticeable. But I caught it. Alexander's shoulders stiffened—just slightly, just for a second—before he smoothed it away like it had never happened.
Interesting.
"Princess Eleanor," their Queen said smoothly, eyes sharp with quiet calculation. "We have heard much about you."
"I hope only the tolerable parts," I replied, my tone light, my smile measured.
A flicker of amusement passed between them.
We moved on.
But that pull—
It hadn't left.
It had grown.
We reached the entrance.
"Alpha Alexander. Princess Eleanor. The boardroom is prepared."
Prepared.
I stepped inside—
—and chaos detonated.
Not subtle.
Not gentle.
It hit like fireworks going off inside my chest.
Bright.
Violent.
Impossible to ignore.
My breath hitched.
Mine.
"Oh, now you understand?" I snapped internally.
OH, Nyra practically shouted. I understand everything.
"Explain."
No time.
"What do you mean no—"
Look.
My gaze lifted.
Scanning.
Fast.
Sharp.
And then—
Everything stopped.
Because he—Whoever he was—Should not have been allowed to exist looking like that.
Tall. Effortlessly so. Broad shoulders, solid build—strength carved, not displayed.
Thick black hair. Unruly. Tempting. The kind that made my fingers itch with the sudden, ridiculous urge to push through it just to see if it was as soft as it looked.
Do it, Nyra whispered.
"Absolutely not."
Coward.
"Strategic."
His beard—full, well-kept, rough in the best way. Not polished. Not curated. Real.
And then—
His eyes.
Brown.
Deep enough to pull you under. Steady enough to make you stay. They found mine. And this time—
It wasn't a moment.
It was impact.
Like something unseen collided between us.
Sharp.
Electric.
Dangerous.
My chest tightened as that pull snapped into place.
Found.
Nyra surged forward, completely unrestrained.
Mine.
"Calm down."
No.
"We are in a room full of political leaders."
Don't care.
"I don't even know who he is."
We will.
"This is not how this works."
This is exactly how this works.
I inhaled slowly, forcing my expression to remain untouched.
He didn't look away.
Not immediately.
And that—
That was worse.
Because it felt like he saw it too.
Felt it.
Recognized it.
And for one reckless second—
I didn't want to look away either.
Stare harder, Nyra encouraged.
"I will exile you."
You can't.
"I will try."
But control snapped back. I tore my gaze away first.
Lifted my chin.
Reset.
I stepped forward beside Alexander.
"Alpha Alexander of Aurelion," the room announced.
"And Princess Eleanor."
I inclined my head with practiced perfection.
For a fraction of a second—
Silence shifted.
Not absence.
Adjustment.
I caught it in the smallest details.
A Beta from Lunaris leaned toward his Queen, whispering something too low to hear—her expression tightening almost imperceptibly before smoothing into diplomacy.
Across the table, one of Dravenmoor's Alphas glanced toward their King—just briefly, just enough to check—before stepping back into stillness.
Varkos didn't move at all.
But their Queen's gaze lingered a second longer than necessary.
Measuring.
Calculating.
Not us.
What we represented.
One throne. One pack. No internal fracture. No delay.
Alexander didn't react.
Of course he didn't. He never needed to. Because the advantage wasn't spoken. It was understood.
Voices followed.
Condolences.
Respect.
Politics
But none of it landed properly.
Because somewhere across the room—
He still existed.
And Nyra—Had absolutely lost her mind.
We need his name, she whispered.
"No."
We need to touch the hair.
"Stop."
Just once.
"Focus."
You focus, she shot back. I've already chosen chaos.
I almost smiled.
Almost.
But instead, I sat—graceful, composed, every inch the princess they expected.
While inside—Everything burned.