Zephrine

As Tumpacked my small luggage. I realized had forgotten the chest. The one with my hairpin, the invitation scroll, and my mother’s bracelet back in Hue Pack.

What I had seen and heard made me forget it. I sighed, sitting on Dessyn’s bel, jaw tight.

A ce had already been reserved for me before I arrived, and I packed my few clothes there. I was sorting bthrough /bmy shoes when I felt Moon’s presence at the doorway.

We had arrived btogether/b. Their parents were already asleep, and Dessyn hadn’t yet returned from the Lycan Kingdom.

I turned, settling my gaze bon /bhim. He offered a small smile.

“I thought you might need help.

“No.” I replied softly.

He waited, his eyes lingering on my face before lowering with a quiet sighb. /b

“I’m happy. Zephyr,” he said quietly. “That you’re here.”

Tension settled in the air at his words, and I swallowed hard. I didn’t bknow /bwhat to say until the sound of carriage wheels rolled in, then bcame /bto a stop.

“Thank you so much for today, Alpha Auedric,” Dessyn’s voice drifted in.fne69a Discover more novels at f?ndnovel/fne69a

“You should be the one to be thankedb. /bGood night now.”

“Yes, Alpha Auedric,”

Momentster, Dessyn appeared in the doorway beside her brother, holding a chest. She stepped inside and dropped it onto the floor with a thud.

“Ugh, I’m so exhausted, she groaned, then sat up straighter, her eyes on the chest. A small smile curled at the corners of her lips.

“Apex Blood sent this as payment for me hosting his coronation party,” she beamed, then sighed shakily. “Zephyr, do you think it’s safe to open it? I mean… would he mean well after what happened at the party today!”

“bHe /bwasn’t hurt, was he?” I asked, stepping closer to the chest and gesturing for her to go ahead.

Dessyn let out a shaky breath before lifting the lid.

Golden jewelry glimmered beside an expensive bottle of wine and a bright scroll, handwritten by the King himself.

With trembling fingers, Dessyn read the scroll, bthen /blooked up at me, her eyes wide.

“H… he wants to hire me. Permanently. To host all of his future festivals, bZephyr/b.”

Hireb? /b

I took the scroll from her hands and read it myself. The confirmation made my bheart /bbdrop/b.

This meant a lot for the White Pack. For the bDusk /bbfamily/b.

Lhugged her tightly. She chuckled between her btears /bwhile Moon lingered in the doorway, watching.

He finally stepped closer and reached for the wine, but Dessyn smacked his hand away.

“Ow! What was that for? Let’s celebrate!”

4:23 PM

“Yes, let’s do that.” Dessynughed, then turned to me. “How about a warm bath, bZephyr/b?”

Finished

Dessyn filled bmy /bgoblet and handed it to me with a grin. We were both naked in the wide bathing chamber, the water rising to our breasts, bwarm /bband /bsoothing.

I took a sip and sighed bshakily/b, then moved toward the edge and ced the goblet down.

Moon had already finished his portion and left usdies to ourselvesb. /b

“This’ll be big news tomorrow, Zephyr, Dessyn said behind me. “I can’t wait to host another party in the Lycan Kingdom.”

1 tumed band /bgave her a small smile. Then I turned back again, staring binto /bempty space, until her voice returned.

“What’s wrong. Zephyr?” she asked, sensing what I tried to hide. “You’ve packed everything from Hue Pack, right?”

I turned to look at her but said nothing. She sighed. She knew me too well.

“Zephyrb…/b” she bsaid /bagain, concerned. I shrugged.

“I’m fine, I murariured, taking another sip of wine.

“You know.. during the afterparty, people were talking about you and the Lycan King.”

I froze. The water baround /bme suddenly felt colder. I slowly turned toward her.

“What were they bsaying/b?”

“That a bond can’t form between a werewolf and a lycan, especially not one who’s cursed,” she said softly. “They bsaid/b… a rogue and a Blood would destroy each other.

I looked down, frowning. I hadn’t thought that far ahead. Maybe they were right but then again I am not a rogue. I am ban /bAshmere.

“Nyroth cheated on me, Dessyn,” I said quietly. I felt her stiffen. “Really cheated. He made love to Ka. And… I just found out they’d been doing it before.”

Silence settled between us. When I looked at her, she was watching me carefully.

“You killed him?” she basked /batst. I shook my head.

“My days of killing are over, Dessyn and I don’t care about what they say about me or what Apex might think,” I tried, but even I knew it sounded weak.

She didn’t buy it.

“You’re summoned by him in privateter. Tell me you felt nothing when you were alone with him and I’ll drop it.”

I swallowed hard. Her words echoed in my mind, pulling up the memory of that intense moment.

“He wants me,” I whispered. Dessyn swam closer, eyes fixed on mine. “He said he’s willing bto /bchange himself to my taste. He doesn’t want me touched by any man. And… he’s serious about it.”

She stayed quiet for a long time. Then she finally spoke.

b“/bbAnd /bwhat was byour /bresponse?”

“Dessynb../b”

“Apex won’t back down,” she interrupted softly. “You saw how brutal he bwas /btoday”

1 swallowed again. I already knew, He wouldn’t. If only he could see my death.. maybe he wouldn’t be so obsessed with me.

Iwent silent, my thoughts circling in chaos. Then bI /bnced at Dessyn and basked /bquietly.

“How does it feel. I mean, being kissed for the first time?”

“Zephyr

Finished

“And being made love to?” I lowered my gaze and sighed. “I know you did it once with my brother. Was it that great?”

She stayed silent for a long time. I bknew /bshe hated talking about Varyn, Just like me, she hadn’t moved on from bhis /bdisappearance.

“It was great,” she said finally. “The best thing to do with a man who is gentle and in love with you. If he’s gentle, it won’t hurt

Gentle.

The word echoed in my mind. I sighed shakily.

“Apex isn’t gentle.”

I hadn’t meant to bsay /bit aloud until I saw bDessyn’s /bgaze.

swallowed hard when I saw her expression. I am falling fast.

Silence stretched between us, heavy with things left bunspoken/b.

The lust, the tension, the emotion building in my chest for the Lycan King was wild and it was growing fast.

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