Althea had a deep, relaxing sleep during the night and woke up feeling very rejuvenated. lva was already inside when she sat on the bed and stretched her arms.
“You’re finally awake, My Lady,” lva said as she arranged a al for her.
“Are we not going to continue the journey?” she asked, rising onto the bed and gazing at it for a mont. Sohow, Gavriel’s familiar warmth and scent still lingered.
“He slept with you the entire night, My Lady, and left just before sunrise,” lva said with a teasing grin, as if proud she had imdiately read her thoughts from a single look.
Her face flushed, and she muttered, “I slept like a log.”
Well, you’re sick and many things happened, so he probably just cradled you and didn’t have the heart to disturb your peaceful slumber. “Co now and eat. Everyone is now preparing to continue the journey.”
She nodded and then prepared for the morning. lva had once again arranged a riding outfit for her, saying the Alpha King told her that she would ride with him on his horse during the journey.
“I never thought that Lycans are this clingy to their mates. But I guess, he just doesn’t want you getting out of his sight or being abducted again,” lva comnted.
Althea didn’t comnt, and to be honest, she couldn’t wait to have so private ti. She needed to practice and test everything she rembered from her childhood with her mother.
While she was eating breakfast, Gaviel entered the tent. Instantly, lva politely bowed and then left her alone with him. He sat at the table beside her, looked intently at her, and asked, “How are you feeling?”
She gave him a half smile and said, “Better, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty.”
His forehead creased as he pondered, “What happened? Why don’t you want a healer to check on you?”
“I’m perfectly fine already,” she reassured. “Just that I rember so mories from the past when I was a kid that I lost during an accident before.”
“mories?” he questioned.
Althea swallowed hard, sensing the Alpha King’s curiosity but hesitating to reveal more.
“Yes, my mother died while we fled from rogues in the forest,” she simply stated, as that was the widely accepted truth. However, with her mories returning, Althea realized it was not just rogues, they had sorcerers using black magic among them.
Additionally, there was more: the insignia of Silverfang Pack from the Southwest, the pack of Luna ena.
She should have realised how vile that late Luna was. It indicated that those rogues and sorcerers were sent by her to eliminate her and her mother, who was favored by their father Cain.
‘Luna ena is dead now, Mother,’ she thought, hoping that this sohow brought justice for her mother’s death.
There was another heavy silence between them. It stretched long and deafening until Gavriel finally stood.
“When you’re ready, co out. We’ll head on,” he said flatly. But Althea noticed sothing in his eyes. A flicker of hesitation... as if he wanted to say more. Yet he didn’t. He just turned and walked out.
Althea let out a long sigh and stared at the space he left behind. ‘Why can’t I read his mind? Is he really that powerful?’ she wondered silently, her brows drawing together in frustration.
She finished her breakfast quietly. As soon as she stepped outside, Gavriel was there... waiting, as always. Just like before, he approached her without a word and helped her mount his horse. Then he climbed up behind her.
“I can ride on my own,” she muttered as he took the reins from her hands.
“Why would I let you?” Gavriel replied smoothly. “You might run away.”
Althea snorted softly. “It’s not like I could get far from you.”
A faint smirk tugged at his lips, but he didn’t say anything more.
To be honest, sothing had been weighing on Althea’s mind. And when their horse slowed slightly, falling a few paces behind the rest, she took the chance.
“I hope you keep your word,” she said, her voice calm but firm. She remained worried for Kael because she wasn’t sure if Gavriel would keep his promise to let him truly escape. What if Gavriel sent n to still kill Kael? “Kael is just worried about . We’re like family. He has nothing against yo-”
She didn’t get to finish.
Gavriel suddenly yanked the reins, and the horse surged ahead with a strong gallop, veering sharply away from the others. Althea gasped, her hands gripping the saddle as the sudden burst of speed threw her off balance. His arm clamped tightly around her waist, holding her in place.
“What, Gavriel?!” she exclaid, twisting slightly to look back at him.
He didn’t answer. With his jaw clenched and eyes darkened, he kept his gaze fixed ahead. The forest blurred past them as the trees rushed by. Althea could feel the tension radiating off him in waves.
“Where are we heading?" she asked, her heart pounding, not only from the speed of the ride but also from the storm brewing behind his silence. Still, he said nothing. His grip didn’t loosen.
She tried again, voice sharper this ti. “Stop this! What are you doing?!”
Finally, he spoke... his voice low, quiet, and deadly. “You speak of him like I don’t know what he wants. Like I didn’t see the way he looked at you. That wasn’t just concern, Althea.”
She fell silent, stunned by the weight of his words.
“Nobody takes what’s mine. Don’t worry. I let him live now, like I promised,” Gavriel said, his voice low and sharp. “But next ti, I’ll make sure he won’t.”
There was no threat in his tone, just a promise. Cold and absolute. And sohow, that shook her more than the wild gallop of the horse.
Suddenly, he pulled the reins, bringing the horse to a halt in the centre of a quiet clearing. He dismounted in one swift movent, then reached up and pulled her down without a word.
“What are–” she began, but her voice caught in her throat as Gavriel pressed his lips firmly against hers. It wasn’t gentle, nor was it sweet. She could feel his fury, his confusion, his hunger, all colliding in that kiss.
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