The night air in the Moonlight Pack was light and thin, yet inside the palace walls, the atmosphere felt heavier and more suffocating than ever. In the dimly lit royal bedchamber, a cool breeze brushed through the open terrace doors, but rather than bringing relief, the chilling wind only seemed to make the room feel tighter, charged with an invisible tension.
The silence broke with the faint twist of the door handle. The heavy oak door swung open, and Valex stepped inside, closing it gently behind him. A soft, weary smile touched his lips as his eyes immediately drifted toward the grand bed, where Odesse lay fast asleep. His expression softened, and he began to walk toward her, but he stopped dead in his tracks before even reaching the mattress.
His brows furrowed deeply. He stood completely still, breathing in slowly as his nostrils flared. "This scent..." he murmured, his voice a low, gravelly whisper.
