"The separation is unsustainable. I am ruined without you, my love. I would risk my crown for the certainty of your presence."
The isolation had been unbearable. Alaric and I had agreed to the political separation as a tactical necessity to stabilize the Northern Kingdom while I went back to RoanRidge. But agreement meant nothing to the primal ache of our bond. My wolf, Black, had been frantic, sensing my mate's emotional strain even as I fought to maintain the political facade.
I stood under the shower, the hot water failing to soothe the anxious tremor beneath my skin. The chaos of the last few hours, the shattered window, the grueling sprint, the grim intel on Vorath and Maelis, and the mind-breaking news about Taemin's dual mate bond—had left me utterly drained. I was fragile, and I needed my Alpha King.
