Thorne stood by the window, hands behind his back, staring out into the dark. Caelum flipped through a stack of reports at the table behind him.
He looked up at Thorne when he was done. He glanced outside the window, seeing the moon in its glory. "It's the full moon soon."
Thorne's shoulder tensed up at his words, He humd, "It will go as always."
Caelum nodded, "I'll start preparing."
Thorne turned around, "The girl… how is she doing?" He asked through gritted teeth.
Caelum's brows furrowed slightly. "Adina?"
Thorne's silence was enough.
"She left the room already. Slipped out and returned to the slave quarters." He replied calmly.
Thorne stiffened at this, his jaw clenched hard. "She left? I didn't give her permission to leave."
Caelum raised a brow, lips pald into a thin line. "Forgive for saying this, my king, but there's no reason for you to get worked up since she's just a slave. Besides, tongues have started to wag since you carried her back at the farm." He paused for a second, "I will advise you to call Thessara over. I think it will do you good to sever the bond with her. You're unable to reject her properly because the bond is one-sided. Thessara can do sothing about it. I'm certain she can sever the bond."
Thorne didn't respond imdiately. Instead, his eyes narrowed, His jaw tightened until the tendons popped.
Caelum waited, knowing he'd overstepped his boundaries but knew it had to be said. He didn't want the slave yet wouldn't stop asking for her. Maybe this would make him understand that he didn't want that… that this is a second chance for him.
Then Thorne spoke… his voice low, dark. "You're right."
Caelum blinked. "I am?"
Thorne finally turned, eyes on Caelum. "Summon Thessara."
Caelum stiffened, clearly surprised. "You're serious?"
"I want the bond gone," Thorne bit out. "Cut from like rot from flesh. I don't want them to have this hold over , not anymore." Thorne spat out, but sothing about the look in Thorne's eyes said otherwise.
Before Caelum could respond, the door swung open again. Elara stepped in, her eyes flickering between the two of them.
"My king, I heard—"
"Elara," Thorne said, imdiately turning away. "Leave."
She stepped in anyway, "No." She gritted out.
His gaze cut to her, sharp and warning. "I won't ask again."
"I'm not leaving… Not when—" she paused, swallowed the lump in her throat. "Thorne, We need to—"
Caelum stepped back, gaze shifting between the two. "I'll give you privacy."
But Thorne's eyes didn't leave him, not when Elara stepped closer, not even as the door shut behind Caelum. He shut his eyes for a brief second and looked at her.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, Elara?" He spat out.
"I'm sorry. I know I just— I'm desperate, Thorne." She croaked out.
"Elara, whatever this is about, you can—"
"No! It's not whatever. You've— you've changed, Thorne. You're much distant. You don't talk to . You put at arm's length and treat as though I was a stranger." She stepped closer, eyes glimring with unshed tears. "Have I offended you? Tell what it is I did, and I will get on my knees and beg for your forgiveness."
"You did nothing," he said flatly.
"Then why?" Her voice cracked. "Why do you look through like I don't exist?"
"Elara…" He warned.
But she didn't stop. "Do you think I don't see it? You forget I know you, Thorne. I'm the only one who understands your pain and yet— I share your pain. I lost my parents." Her voice wavered, "Just like you lost your mate. Just like you lost your pup."
Thorne's jaw ticked. She was walking dangerous ground.
"I understand your grief, Thorne. I carried it with you. I still do." She stepped closer. Her hand on his shoulder, then slid along his arm. "But don't shut out. Not when I—"
She pressed herself against him.
"Thorne," she whispered, her lips by his ear. "Please… Don't treat like a stranger. I'm not."
He froze. Every part of him recoiled. It wasn't her. It wasn't the one whose scent haunted his every waking mont.
Thorne grabbed her hand and tore it off him. "Stop, Elara." His voice was harsh,
"That's enough. I'll forget this ever happened. Don't let it repeat itself." He growled lowly.
Elara's eyes widened at this, "Thorne… Please…" she pressed on.
"ELARA!" Thorne snarled, and she flinched, eyes wide like she didn't believe he would ever yell at her.
"That's enough! You're tired, leave."
Elara stood still. For a beat, she didn't move. Then she straightened, swallowing hard. "I'm sorry, my king." She turned away, her jaw clenched so tight her teeth might shatter, and walked out without another word.
Thorne stood still, watching her retreating figure. What was Elara doing? They agreed never to ntion that night. He chose to forget what happened that day and yet…
He turned to the window, feeling a burning sensation beneath his skin. His eyes flickered to the moon, and he didn't need to be told.
~~~~~~~
Now, Thorne ran through the woods wildly. He needed a break from his mind, his thoughts… Everything felt too tight - his skin, his body, the pull of the damn bond gnawing at him like teeth.
He didn't know how long he ran, just that he needed to breathe.
Then he caught a scent. Her.
He growled under his breath and slowed his pace. How was it even possible? Was his mind ssing with him? Why would she be out here in the woods this late at night? His eyes narrowed as he moved quietly, following the trail until—
He slamd into soone.
She gasped as she fell back, and he caught her by the arm before she hit the ground.
Adina.
Her eyes were wide with shock. She looked scared. Dirt clung to her skirt, her lips were cracked and red from the cold.
He stared at her for a beat, then tightened his grip on her arm.
"What the hell are you doing out here?"
She opened her mouth, closed it, then tried again. "M-my king," she imdiately lowered her gaze. "I-I got lost. I was sent to collect red fern leaves for the head maid, and I—"
He didn't let her finish.
"Don't lie to ." His voice was low, dangerous. "Is this your idea of escaping?"
Her eyes widened, eyes snapping up at him, No! I swear. I wasn't trying to escape. I just took a wrong turn. I didn't an—"
Her scent wrapped around him, and his grip faltered. She slled like cinnamon. This was the first ti he'd slled her scent. His eyes darkened as he stared at her, jaw tight, heart pounding. Why was it always like this with her? He ca for a run to escape the gnawing need and craziness this one-sided bond was doing to him only for him to bump into her in the dead of night.
His gaze dropped to her mouth. She looked like she'd been biting her lips. It was red and raw.
Sothing stirred in him… sothing raw and aching.
For a second, he shut his eyes, his lycan snarling and writhing beneath his skin. Wanting… needing. He leaned in, too close.
Suddenly, he pulled back sharply and shoved her away.
Adina stumbled, catching herself on a nearby tree. Hurt flashed through her orbs; she didn't understand what just happened or why she felt hurt.
Thorne stared at her for a minute longer before turning, walking off.
Adina stood still, heart pounding hard. If only she hadn't been called by the head maid to get red fern leaves, then she wouldn't have—
"Well?" he barked. "Do you need an invitation to follow?"
She looked up only to find him standing feet away, staring at her. She quickly hurried after him. He didn't slow down, and she didn't dare say a word.
It surprisingly didn't take as much ti as Adina expected. In less than five minutes, they were out of the forest. Adina had barely stepped out when she heard the head maid's furious voice.
"What the hell were you thinking, girl?" The head maid stord toward Adina, hands on her hips. Her voice rang sharp and unforgiving. "You disappeared for hours! Do you know how many duties you've left undone? You really are so useless! I should have you whipped for this insolence. How can you—"
She stopped cold.
Her eyes finally landed on the towering shadow behind Adina, and the blood drained from her face.
Thorne stepped forward slowly, his eyes hard and unreadable. "Red fern leaves," he said, voice low and calm in that terrifying way only Thorne could manage. "Interesting task to assign a new slave." His gaze didn't move from the maid's face. "Especially considering they can only be found during the day."
The woman swallowed hard, trying to speak.
"If sothing had happened to her out there," he went on, stepping closer, "would you have taken responsibility?"
"N-no, my king. I— I didn't know she'd—"
"You barely know anything these days, do you? You've failed once already, Matilda. You might just be the useless one."
Matilda's face crumbled, paling further. "I—I ant no harm, my king."
"Then stop acting like it." He snapped. "Sending a slave into the woods at night to find sothing that blooms in daylight? That's either incompetence or stupidity. Neither has a place under my roof."
The head maid bowed so low her knees touched the earth. "Forgive . Please, I beg you—"
"Don't make replace you, Matilda," Thorne said flatly. "Tighten up. Or I'll find soone who will."
She didn't dare speak again.
Thorne's gaze flicked back to Adina just for a heartbeat. Her head was bowed, her shoulders trembling slightly. She hadn't moved, hadn't spoken, hadn't even looked at him since the forest. But he could sll her embarrassnt… Her anger.
Interesting…
He turned without another word and walked off.
Adina exhaled only after he was gone. Matilda didn't speak again; she simply straightened, glared daggers at her before storming off.
Alone now, Adina stood there, shaken… unsure what had just happened, or why the king helped her or defended her?
But a strange warmth curled low in her chest, and that scared her the most.
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