Flora watched Zander from the doorway of the gym. Despite the biting winter chill outside, he hadn’t missed a single session. It was clear now that this discipline was as much a part of him as his title of an alpha.
As he clicked the machine off and stepped down, mopping the sweat from his brow with a towel, Flora finally approached.
"Here," she said softly, extending a water bottle.
"Thanks." Zander took the bottle, his fingers brushing hers as he drank deeply. He set the bottle aside and reached out, his thumb gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"Did you sleep well?" he asked, his intense gaze locking onto hers.
"I did," Flora admitted. "Actually, ever since I arrived at here, I’ve been sleeping better than I have in past few months."
A smile spread across his lips. "Then it’s a sign, isn’t it? You should stay as close to as possible." He took a step forward, closing the distance until their shadows rged, and took her hand in his. "I want to officially declare you as my Luna, Flora. But I’m waiting for you to be ready. I’m waiting for your answer."
Flora blinked, her heart hamring against her ribs. "How?" she whispered. "How have you been able to hold yourself back around ? You never even ntioned feeling my scent or sensing my wolf. You stayed so quiet about the bond. How did you manage that kind of restraint?"
"I told you I would wait for you," Zander said.
"Yes, you did," Flora agreed, looking up at him with wide, wondering eyes. "But it still surprises . Alphas aren’t usually like that. They aren’t known for their patience once they find a match."
"I’m different," Zander replied simply, his thumb tracing circles over the back of her hand. "But tell , do you feel the bond too? So far, I haven’t been able to hear your wolf at all."
"It’s broken," Flora whispered, her gaze dropping to their joined hands. "She doesn’t speak to . Occasionally, she stirs, but it’s not much. It’s mostly silence."
"That’s alright. We will heal her together," Zander assured her. He leaned in, pressing a firm kiss to her forehead. "I’ll go get ready now. Why don’t you wait for in the living room?"
Flora nodded and slipped away, leaving the gym once more. Zander stood alone for a mont, running his fingers through his damp hair as he stared at the door.
’How am I supposed to make her wolf feel better? Any idea, Knox?’ he asked internally.
’I tried to establish a link,’ Knox, his wolf, spoke with a heavy, low resonance in the back of his mind. ’But Emy refused to speak to . She pulled away into the shadows. I think she’s too scarred by everything that happened to them.’
’Hmm. Then we will have to put in more effort than I thought,’ Zander stated firmly. He grabbed his towel and headed toward the showers, his mind already spinning with ways to coax a broken wolf back into the light.
~~~~~
As night fell, the upper deck of the cruise ship transford into a vibrant landscape of light and sound. Karn and Aisha stepped into the heart of the celebration, where a party was in full swing. The breeze carried the thrum of bass and the lodic laughter of couples and groups of friends dancing under the stars.
Karn navigated through the crowd and returned with two glasses, handing one to Aisha. "It’s non-alcoholic," he noted over the music, ensuring she felt comfortable.
He leaned against the railing, taking a slow sip of his own drink while his eyes remained fixed on her. He watched the way the colored deck lights danced in her hair, gauging her expression to see if she was truly enjoying the evening or if the grandeur was overwhelming.
Despite the noise around them, his focus was entirely on her, making sure this escape was everything she needed it to be.
"Aisha!"
A feminine instantly grabbed Aisha’s attention.
She turned, her face lighting up with recognition. "Jasmine!"
The two won surged forward, pulling each other into a tight, exuberant hug. Karn imdiately straightened up as he stepped back to give them space, though his eyes remained sharp and observant.
"What on earth are you doing here?" Jasmine asked, pulling back to look at Aisha with an expression of pure shock. "You’ve been completely off the radar for such a long ti! We all thought you’d vanished off the face of the earth after what happened to your mate."
"I just felt like being alone for a while," Aisha explained with a gentle smile. "What about you? How have you been?"
"I’ve been wonderful, Aisha! Actually, I recently got married," Jasmine shared, her face beaming. "I really wanted to invite you, but I realized I didn’t even have your contact information anymore."
"It’s alright, I understand. Congratulations on the marriage," Aisha replied warmly. She then tilted her head back toward the railing. "I didn’t co here alone, though. Karn brought ."
Jasmine’s eyes widened as they landed on him, the recognition hitting her instantly. "Prince Gabriel’s Beta!" she remarked, her voice hushed with surprise.
Karn stepped forward with his usual composed grace, extending a hand to Jasmine. She shook it, her gaze darting between the two of them as a mischievous glint sparkled in her eyes. "Wait... are you two together?" she asked, leaning in closer to catch the scoop.
Karn’s gaze dropped to Aisha as he waited to see how she would define them. There was a brief, charged silence before Aisha spoke up clearly.
"Yes," she replied. "We are dating."
"Woah! That is such wonderful news!" Jasmine exclaid, her enthusiasm nearly drowning out the music. "I’m so happy for both of you. Honestly, who knows? Maybe I’ll be attending your wedding next!"
Before Aisha could respond to the ntion of a wedding, a man’s voice cut through the pulse of the party. "Babe, I’ve been looking for you everywhere!"
Jasmine’s husband made his way through the crowd, sliding an arm around her waist.
"Aisha, Karn, et my husband, Erwin Reid," Jasmine said, her face glowing with pride. "Erwin, this is my old college friend, Aisha. And this is her boyfriend, Karn."
Erwin offered a friendly nod, though his eyes lingered on Karn for a fraction of a second longer, likely recognizing the high-ranking Beta of the palace. "It’s a pleasure to et you both," he said, extending a hand to Karn.
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