Elias drifted back to sleep in Prince Rowan's arms. Rowan carefully eased him onto the pillow, brushing his damp hair away from his face. For the first time, he looked… almost soft. He leaned closer, his lips barely an inch away from Elias's.
"How much are you broken?" he asked, but silence filled the room. His eyes narrowed from his furrowed eyebrows to his pressed, thin lips. It looked nothing less than inviting, but Rowan held back. He dared not kiss a man who dreamt of another.
But then, did he care?
No. Rowan leaned in—this time closer than ever. He was basking in Elias's warm breath, his eyes beaming with mischief, and his hands tightened around his little frame.
But then, a sharp knock shattered the silence.
Kim burst through the door, breathless, without warning. "Your Highness—" he stopped. His eyes caught between the uncompromised position, but the words forced their way out. "There's been a breach in the western tower. Someone left a message."
Rowan quickly stood, his eyes narrowed. "What kind of message?"
Kim handed him a folded scrap of black parchment.
Elias, who the sudden intrusion had woken him up. He sat up, his heart pounding as Rowan read the words aloud.
"You may keep the body… but the soul is mine. —K."
Elias tightened his fingers on the silk sheets, and his face went pale.
"Kael," he whispered, much to the hearing of the others before he could realize it.
Rowan turned, his eyes cold. "Your ex." His words dripped with disdain.
Elias stared at him, matching the gaze. "What? Don't tell me you don't have one," he snapped, but the prince's eyes dropped to the floor.
Elias's eyes flickered to Kim, then back to Rowan, as mischief built up within him. "No way, right… Our prince is a virgin," he cackled.
Rowan just hissed. "At least I do not have an ex coming after me like the Grim Reaper."
Kim sighed, then turned to the door, his eyes screaming help, where Blake stood like the shadow he was.
"How long has it been?" Rowan asked, turning to Kim, who stepped back and let Blake take over. He was more virile and strict.
"An hour at most," Blake replied.
Rowan turned to Elias, who still looked a little shaken. He did not like the idea of notes sneaking up on him with no clue.
"Since he likes sneaking around… we might as well play the game together." Rowan dismissed the guards for the night, but sleep did not come easily.
Deep into the forest, within the territory of the Snowdale Pack, Luna Kelly paced in front, her face gloomy and her hands trembling from the cold.
"Why is he taking too long?" she demanded, but no one had an answer.
"Luna, I think we should head back to the pack house… The snow is coming harder," Lia, her personal maid, urged. But Kelly was not willing. Her eyes expectantly stared into the distance, but nothing.
"Fine. But I want to be the first to know when he returns," she ordered.
Lia nodded.
Since Beta Elais's sudden disappearance, rumors had spread all over the pack like wildfire. While some speculated he ran because he killed the Alpha, others said it was vengeance for the Alpha choosing another. But nothing was as surprising as the sudden rise to fame of the Wrenmore family.
Edric Wrenmore was now a council member, and his son got the best of everything. Their lives had suddenly gotten better after the outcast of his first son, and they had not only publicly disowned him but declared him dead.
Mr. Edric had a long day. He dealt with the new rogue attacks and had only rounded up for the night when the Alpha requested his presence.
The pack house was dark, and all was asleep except for the light within the Alpha's office. All was still and calm. Mr. Edric pushed his way in, and there the two sat, eager and waiting.
"I thought you said he was dead," Kelly barged in almost immediately.
Mr. Edric halted, his steps faltered, and his hands trembled.
"He is," he murmured.
"Oh yeah? Then who is married to that arrogant brat of the Forgotten Court?" Kael snapped.
Mr. Edric stood still, his eyes on the ground. He dared not face the Alpha. It had all been planned. Elias ran, but he was bleeding so badly—he never would have thought he would make it out alive.
"I… I…" He stammered.
Kelly turned to Kael, her nails clicking against the oak desk.
"We don't need much, just offer an apology and something nice." Her lips curled. "The Elias I know would do anything to have you back," she added.
But Kael had second thoughts.
"Elias may be willing to come back… but Rowan wouldn't let him," his voice dropped.
The three sat in silence, a thousand thoughts running through their minds. It was urgent. The safety of the pack depended on it.
"We meet again at dawn," Kael dismissed Mr. Edric, who hurried out.
Lying in bed, Kelly watched the man she married walk over to the couch and lie down despite the discomfort.
"It wouldn't kill you to share the bed with me," she hissed, but Kael lay still. His eyes opened, and he stared into space. Time ticked, and Kelly grew tired of waiting. She closed her eyes, but then he replied.
"It was a bargain," he murmured, his voice hoarse and heavy. "It was never love, never for companionship, and I had warned you not to play dirty… Now see, my pack is on the line, and you want me to share the bed with you. Is everything well?" he scoffed bitterly.
Kelly sat up, folding her hands over her chest.
"Don't give me that, Kael. This is my mistake as much as it's yours." She sighed heavily, then lay back on the bed.
"You should have thought about your love, but you chose wealth, and now it's my mistake?" she hissed. "Talk about unappreciative," she scoffed.
Kael listened to every word. His father's death, the rejection, and Elias's fleeing the pack—it was all planned. But no one had expected his escape. And now, his existence alone was a looming threat to the pack.