I held Athlea close, gently rubbing her back as she trembled in my arms. Her pain was raw, open, and inescapable, and I couldn''t deny the feeling of helplessness that settled deep in my chest. Still, I whispered softly to her, hoping to soothe some of her agony.

    "It''s going to be alright," I murmured, stroking her hair. "Your husband will come soon. Don''t worry."

    Inwardly, I was less certain. The man had practically vanished, and I had no doubt that he wouldn''t show up anytime soon, especially now that we knew there was something hidden within his company''s walls. But Athlea needed comfort, not more questions, so I kept my suspicions to myself.

    I felt her nod slightly, though the relief I''d hoped to offer didn''t seem to reach her eyes. I was about to say more when I noticed something unusual—a group of knights lingering near the hospital entrance, their attention focused intently on us. They weren''t hiding it either; each gaze was sharp, assessing.

    "Athlea," I asked quietly, "what exactly happened with Arno?"

    Her expression faltered, confusion clouding her face. "They said they''d examine his body... and give it to me tomorrow." She hesitated, her gaze darting nervously toward the knights. "They''re acting... strange."

    I tilted my head, looking at her intently. "Strange? How?"

    She sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face as her eyes took on a distant, almost wary look. "They kept asking questions, as if... as if there''s something they already know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "They kept asking where he worked, and who he was working with."

    I frowned. "And you told them the truth?"

    "Of course," she replied, sounding almost offended at the implication. "I told them he worked for my husband''s company. But they... they didn''t seem to believe me. And they wouldn''t tell me why." She hugged herself tighter, glancing at me with worry-filled eyes. "I don''t know what''s going on, but I feel like there''s more they aren''t telling us."

    I nodded slowly, gently squeezing her hand. "Don''t worry, Athlea. I''m with you. Nothing will happen. We''ll get to the bottom of this together."

    "Master, you''re here."

    I turned to see Alpha standing in the doorway, her eyes meeting mine with a hint of something unreadable. She wore a silk nightgown that shimmered in the dim light, her silhouette framed by the glow of the hallway.

    "Yeah, I''m here." I exhaled, tension building up inside me as the night''s events played back in my mind. "The knights were... intense tonight. They didn''t take their eyes off us."

    Alpha approached, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "They look at everyone like that, Master," she replied, reaching out to trace a finger down my chest, her touch both soothing and electric. "Paranoia is their language."

    I chuckled softly,. "True, but this was... different."

    She leaned closer, her fingers deftly working to unbutton my shirt. "Perhaps they sense something coming. Perhaps they know you''re planning something that''ll turn their world upside down," she murmured, her voice dipping into a seductive whisper as she slipped her arms around my shoulders, her gaze holding mine with a familiar intensity.

    I couldn''t help the smirk that tugged at my lips, feeling some of the tension start to dissipate under her touch. "Well, they''re not wrong."

    She tilted her head, her fingers tracing slow, and removing the belt of my pant and zipping down, only to let my pants drop on the floor.

    "We''ve got a lot to prepare for tomorrow," she murmured, her face mere inches from mine as her gaze locked onto my lips.

    The spark between us ignited, pulling me out of my thoughts. My hands found her waist, and I pulled her closer, lifting her effortlessly into my arms. Her breath hitched as I captured her lips in a kiss, our movements instinctive, driven by the need to forget—if only for a moment.

    In one fluid motion, I carried her over to the bed, lowering her onto the mattress as I pressed my body against hers. Her arms wrapped around my neck, fingers threading through my hair as she returned the kiss with a fierce hunger that matched my own.