bChapter /bb182 /b

    ra’s POV

    “I know I’m supposed to decide, but how can I?” I muttered under my breath, staring at the space between. Thorne and Dorian as they stood in front of me like two stubborn rams. Kimberly’s warning from earlier echoed in my mind, but it wasn’t helping. Nothing made this easier

    A week passed, and we managed to get everything back in order: fixing the castle, weing citizens back, and resuming life as it bwas /bsupposed to be. But it wasn’t the same anymore.

    The people? They didn’t care much about the new king, not really. To them, a roof over their heads was enough.

    But this? This was all about the future, my future. And that was exactly what I couldn’t figure out.

    Thorne and Dorian–two men who couldn’t stand each other for even a second–wouldn’t stop fighting over something as ridiculous as

    which car I should ride in.

    “I know the way home, so obviously, I should be with ra,” Thorne said, his chin held high like he had the best of everything.

    “Anyone with a map or a GPS app can find the wayi,” /iDorian shot back, raising an eyebrow. “But if we’re talking aboutfort, that’s where !e in. Our car’s superior.”

    And, sure enough, it was. The Lycans hade prepared with a luxury SUV that made the other vehicles look like relics from ba /bbygone age.

    “Let me show you the magic of our ride,” Alden said, pulling open the door and revealing a plush, well–lit interior.

    “Handcrafted leather seats. Seat warmers. Built–in fridge stocked with anything you could want. An entertainment system that’ll make the

    10–hour ride feel like an hour. And, of course, our King will be riding right next to you.”

    Dorian shed me a smile, and I rolled my eyes.

    “Your car’s ancient,” Thorne said, clearly unimpressed. “We’ve got thetest model at Direstone. Bulletproof windows, too.”

    Dorian chuckled, “We don’t need bulletproof windows. We can handle danger, thanks.”

    “Are you calling me weak?”

    “Do you need to hide behind windows?”

    The tension in the air could’ve been cut with a knife. They were both ring at each other now, their hostility palpable.

    Kimberly, her lips curling into a wicked smile, chimed in, “How about a fight? Let’s see who gets the privilege of riding with ra.”

    “Fine by me!” Thorne snapped.

    Dorian simply shrugged, “If you’re not afraid of being knocked down again, I’m happy to do a rematch.”

    I could feel the heat in my cheeks, my patience wearing thin.

    “Enough!” I finally snapped, hands on my hips. “If I hear another word of this, I’ll walk back home myself!”

    Dorian, ever the wisecracker, grinned, “Which car will you take then?”

    “I’m riding with Jory and Kimberly,” I retorted, not looking back as I hopped into one of the Jeeps.

    b15 /bb22 /bbTh? /b1b, /bANH CHO

    Chapter b182 /b

    bJory /bslid in behind the wheel, Kimberly beside me. I huffed, sinking into the seat as I crossed my barms/b.

    b“/bbYou /bshouldn’t egg them on,” I muttered to Kimberly, ncing at the rearview mirror, where Thorne and Don were bstill /bbring /bat eachi

    other.

    “Why not?” Kimberly leaned her elbow on the window frame and grinned. “This was bound to happen sooner orter. You can’t bstop /bbit/bb. /b

    I groaned, sinking further into my seat. “I just want them to get along.”

    “You won’t find out who’s best for you by ying nice. Let them fight for it. Only one will rise to the top.”

    I looked out the window, watching the roads blur by.

    “I just want peace,” I sighed.

    Kimberly grinned. “You’ll get it. But not yet. Not while they’re both still fighting for the thronei./ii” /iShe paused, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “But right now? I’m leaning toward Dorian. That car, though… It’s got luxury written all over it.”

    “I’m not so sure,” Jory cut in from the front seat, his eyes focused on the road. “Direstone’s pack is rising fast. Their wealth is growing. bThorne /b

    might have more than you think.”

    Kimberly rolled her eyes, unimpressed. “So what? He wouldn’t spend that money on ra. He didn’t even pay for the ransom when she bwas /b

    kidnapped.”

    My stomach tightened. “Jory, do you think Thorne is the better choice?”

    Jory didn’t even hesitate. “Personal feelings aside, Thorne’s reliable. He’s a werewolf. He’s Alpha material. The other guy? Not so muchb./bb” /b

    1 blinked, surprised by how fondly he spoke of Thorne. But then, something clicked in my mind.

    “Jory… has Thorne ever asked you for your blood?” I asked, keeping my voice casual, but my heart pounded.

    “No. And I won’t give it to him unless you tell me to. I’m loyal to you, Gamma ra,” Jory replied. His tone was unwavering, full of respect.

    I couldn’t help but smile, even though the weight of the situation hung over me. “I’m not your Gamma anymore. You’re a King now.”

    “You’ll always be my Gamma in my heart,” he said with a slight grin.

    Kimberly patted my shoulder. “Whether or not you make Thorne the Werewolf King, it’s your decision. They both know it. And that’s why they’re fighting so hard for you–not just for you as their mate, but for the power you represent.”

    I was silent. Her words lingered in the air, filling the space between us.

    But, deep down, I knew what it came down to. I was torn, caught between two powerful forces, and neither was willing to back down. My

    wolf could feel it, too. She was restless.

    The day passed, and by the time we entered Blood Moon Pack’s territory, dawn was breaking over the mountains. I looked out the bwindow /bbas /bthendscape unfolded before us, a sense of nostalgia flooding my heart.

    The green peaks rose in the distance, their silhouettes framed against the pale sky. A richb, /bearthy scent filled the air, reminding bme /bbof /bbthe /b

    forests that had once been home.

    Kimberly gasped beside me. “This ce is incredible!”

    I smiled softly. “It’s home. And Jory’s, too.”

    b2/3 /b

    b522 /bbTHU /b1 bAUG /b

    “Evergreenndb,” /bJory said with a grin, eyes still on the road.

    As we approached the city, I was expecting a simple wee—just a few people gathered to greet us. But when we bturned /bbonto /bthe main street, I bwas /bstunned.

    The city was alive, streets adorned with ribbons, flowers strewn about. The loud cheers that greeted us were overwhelming

    “Princess ral Wee home!”

    “Gamma is back!”

    “Our heroine, the Rogue King yer!”

    The voices, the excitement–they swept over me like a tidal wave. I rolled down my window, waving at the crowd.

    “I’m back!” I shouted, a wave of joy rising in me.

    My heart raced as we approached the packhouse. I’d told Cael we’d be back soonb, /bbut I didn’t expect this kind of wee.

    My gaze swept over the crowd, searching for one face, one person. Was Cael here? Where was he?

    When I saw Eden, his beta, striding toward us with a worried look on his face, my heart stopped.

    “Eden? Where’s Cael? Is he busy?”

    His expression faltered. “Something’s happened to Alpha.”

    My pulse quickened. “What? Is he sick?”

    “No, not sick… Please,e with me.”

    Panic rose in my chest as I followed Eden, dread settling like a weight.