The air in Thorne's office was cold, and the silence was engulfing. Thorne stood behind the window as it rained heavily,

It wasn't the season of rain and yet…here it was splattering heavily. Thunder rumbled in the clouds.

Thorne stood there, unmoving, looking out at the sky. His gaze was distant.

Adina stepped in quietly. She didn't say a word at first. She just stood there, taking in the rigid line of his back, the tension in his frame.

She dropped the cup of tea she had with her and stepped closer to him, wrapping her arms around his torso. He welcomed her easily, like he had been expecting her. He was.

Just like he could feel her every emotion, she could feel his too.

"I brought you tea," she said quietly against his back.

Thorne said nothing at first, then he nodded, turning to face her now. He caressed her cheek softly and smiled, but it was nothing like she was used to.

Adina couldn't find it in herself to return the smile. "I'm sorry," she said.

His brows furrowed as if the thought of her apologizing didn't make sense. "Sorry? No—I should be the one apologizing."

Adina shook her head. "No, but Elara—"

"Is dead and rightfully so…" He ran his fingers through his hair, and her eyes followed the movement. "I—She was close to me at a point, you know…"

Adina nodded, biting her lips to stop herself from saying, "Oh, don't I know."

Thorne didn't seem to catch it, though. "I don't regret what happened, not after everything she's done to the kingdoms, to you especially. It's just—she was someone I used to know, and now…not only do I not know her anymore, she's gone. Forever."

Adina reached up and cupped his cheek gently. "You don't have to explain it," she whispered. "I understand."

His eyes flickered to hers, searching. "Do you?"

Adina thought about it. Even when her adopted father died, even with how horribly he treated her, a part of her that craved his attention as a pup grieved him. It was stupid, yes, but she knew what it meant.

And thus, she nodded. "I do. You don't have to justify mourning what used to be. You can still hate what she became."

He stared at her for a long second, then leaned down, kissing her forehead softly. "You always say the right thing."

Adina smiled, nodding.

Thorne looked away for a second, his jaw tightening. "She said horrible things to you. Did even more horrible things to you. Even up to her last breath, she only wanted the worst for you." He shook his head, remembering the hatred in her eyes when she threw that liquid. He had dealt with thousands of criminals, evil people, but not once had he seen that level of hatred in their eyes.

"She's gone. That's all that matters," Adina said quietly.

Thorne looked at her, his gaze heavy on her as if he were looking into her soul. Then he nodded, pulling her into a hug. "That's all that matters."

____________

Hours later, Adina had left, and Thorne was left alone again. Caelum stepped in quietly, holding a bunch of scrolls.

He bowed. "Your Majesty."

Thorne glanced up from the work he was doing and paused. "More scrolls?" he asked.

With the amount of pending work left, one would think he was out for longer than a month. What did Elara even do as regent if she couldn't take at least a quarter of these off his hands?

"I'm afraid…this isn't the last of them," Caelum replied, opening the door for two maids to bring in even more work.

Thorne's eyes widened at this. "This much? What the hell happened in the past week?" he grumbled.

Caelum shut the door after the maids were done and shook his head. "Ah, where do I even begin. Elara raised all the taxes by 70%, making life unbearably difficult for the people. Hundreds of fights were reported over this, hundreds of stalls locked up. This increased the level of hunger in some packs. There's also been an increase in missing people." He paused, shaking his head as though he were remembering the worst days. "They're all documented for His Majesty to read."

Thorne nodded. He was gone for two weeks, and the people were in jeopardy.

"What's your first order?" Caelum asked.

At this, Thorne leaned back against the chair, his mind running over everything.

"First things first. Call a meeting. All councilmen, all nobles. I want them all gathered within the next twenty minutes. I'll give out my first order then."

Caelum nodded curtly. "As you order." He bowed then walked out.

_____________

The hall was full.

Every seat was taken, every noble and councilman present, their murmurs filling the court. No one had expected to be called in so soon. After all, the former general had just been killed. After all, she was once a member of the court.

Thorne entered, and the place went silent, so silent that if a pin were to drop, it would be heard.

They all rose, all bowing their heads to him.

Thorne's gaze flickered through all of them, finally settling on the one man he wanted to address, Lord Carter.

Lord Carter looked up at him even as he bowed, and their gaze locked. With no further ado, Thorne walked to his seat and sat down, the rest following suit.

He didn't waste time.

His fingers drummed once against the armrest of his chair, his eyes flickering over them all, watching the way they tensed like they were about to be punished.

He cleared his throat. "There are a few things I want to make clear—effective immediately."

They all sat up tight at this.

"Y-Your Majesty. May I—"

Thorne's gaze snapped to the noble who had dared to speak. "On your feet," he ordered.

The man looked like he was about to wet himself, he stood up trembling. He had only wanted to point something out.

Thorne glanced at Caelum. "Escort him out. He's no longer allowed in my meetings anymore. If he says one more word, throw him in a cell."

Gasps rippled through the room at his words. Thorne was cold, no doubt, but this….he had never been like this. Caelum nodded to the two guards who walked to the noble. The noble stumbled back, sputtering, but one look from Thorne shut him up cold. He didn't resist as he was thrown out of the court.

Once the doors closed behind them, Thorne began.

"Now," he said, his voice cold and sharp. "Back to the matter at hand."

"I have heard and seen everything that has happened in the kingdom for the past two weeks that I have been unavailable. The hikes in taxes, increase in missing people. Dangerous fights. Excessive inflation and many more." He paused, "They have all been documented and reported to me. And I have to say, you have all done such a perfect job at holding the realm during my disposal." His voice rang out, clear and firm.

They all shifted in their seats like their buttocks were on fire. Some cleared their throats awkwardly, but none dared to speak. Not after what had just happened to the noble.

"The reason why I called all of you here as councilmen and nobles was to strengthen and solidify the realm in my absence. Your duty was to make sensible decisions, wise decisions, and look after the best interest of the realm, and yet…you have failed miserably to look beyond what benefits you and your estate."

"Y-your Majesty." A councilman interrupted.

Thorne's gaze snapped at him, and he didn't even need to speak. The guards from earlier walked over to him and hauled him to his feet.

The man's chair scraped back with a screech as the guards yanked him to his feet. He sputtered, "I-I didn't mean to disrespect—Please, Your Majesty—!"

Thorne said nothing as the man was dragged out of the hall. Finally, the doors closed, leaving the rest breaking out into cold sweat.

His gaze swept over them all again. "Anyone else would like to say anything?"

No one dared to even breathe out of order.

Thorne nodded. "After thoroughly reading the reports and documents, I have now realized how utterly incompetent and dishonest you all are. A bunch of yes men who would kill even their own offspring just to fill their pockets. I have tolerated your inadequacy and greedy behavior for far too long…but not anymore. Not when it concerns my realm and kingdom."

His gaze landed on Lord Carter. "Lord Carter of the Carter's estates and Bloodmoon pack," he called, and the man rose from his seat, hands folded before him as he bowed.

"You are hereby stripped of your position as Head of the Councilman, and it is effective immediately. You are suspended from all activity within the court until I say otherwise."

Gasps rippled through the room.

Carter straightened, his jaw clenched tight. "Your Majesty, I only did what I thought was best—"

Thorne slammed his palm against the armrest. "What was best for who? You? Her? Or the people of this realm who starved while you signed off false decrees and crowned a traitor?" He growled, and the doors shook.

"You aided a traitor. Hid her treachery, stood by while she manipulated the court, cursed the Crown, and imprisoned an innocent woman." Thorne's voice grew colder with each word. "You let your greed for power blind you. And you would've let this entire realm fall if it meant your pockets were filled. You have failed the people of Obsidian, you have failed the realm, and you have failed me, your king."

"Your Majesty, you don't understand—"

"I understand enough," Thorne cut him off with a snarl, his chair scraping the floor as he stood. "If I weren't feeling particularly merciful today, you'd be in chains right now. Speak again, and you'll join the traitors in the dungeon."

Carter swallowed his words.

"I don't care how long you've served on the council. I don't care how noble your bloodline is. You failed this realm." Thorne turned to the room now, letting his voice reach every corner. "And that failure is not something I will tolerate again."

The room was silent. No one dared breathe too loudly.

"Caelum will call out the names of those who not only supported Lord Carter in making these decisions but also had their own pockets filled."

Caelum stepped up with a long scroll in his hands. "Lord Gabriel of House Petrova Estate and the Silvermoon pack," he began.

Ten minutes later, there were only five councilmen left and ten nobles.

"Every one of you is hereby suspended. Your titles are stripped off, and your badges will be returned to the palace," Thorne ordered.

They all fell to their knees, wailing for his forgiveness.

Thorne said nothing, shifting his gaze to the rest of them. "Secondly—The realm will no longer have just its king but also its queen. Adina will be publicly announced as my mate, and our official mating ceremony will take place."

There were gasps, some of shock, some of disbelief, and some of barely concealed disapproval.

"I have spent years protecting this kingdom, protecting the realm. I've fought wars. I've bled on these lands. I have sacrificed my former mate, my pup. I have sacrificed everything, but one thing I will not do is sacrifice Adina. I will not—will not—stand by and watch this court tear apart the one woman the gods have fated to me."

"Adina is not only my mate. She is my future. And anyone who dares challenge her place beside me. Anyone who dares question her worth, her loyalty, or her status will not leave this palace with their head intact."