The palace was unusually quiet that evening.
After the brutal training session, Fia's entire body ached. Every muscle protested as she walked down the long marble hallway toward her room. The fight in the training grounds had drained her, but at the same time, it had ignited something inside her.
For the first time since arriving at the palace, the warriors had looked at her differently.
Not with pity.
Not with mockery.
But with respect.
Fia pushed open the door to her room and stepped inside. The chamber was large, elegant, and far more luxurious than anything she had ever known before. Silk curtains hung beside tall windows, and the massive bed looked soft enough to swallow her whole.
Still, it didn't feel like home.
She dropped onto the edge of the bed and rubbed her sore wrist.
"Today was insane," she muttered.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Fia frowned.
"Come in."
The door opened slowly.
To her surprise, it was Ronan.
He stepped into the room with his usual calm authority, his presence immediately filling the space. Even without trying, he commanded attention.
"You fought well today," he said.
Fia looked at him suspiciously.
"Did you come here just to say that?"
Ronan walked closer, stopping a few feet away.
"I came to see if you were still alive."
Fia rolled her eyes.
"Very funny."
But Ronan's expression remained serious as his gaze moved over her arms, checking the bruises that were already forming.
"You're injured," he said.
"It's nothing," Fia replied quickly.
Before she could react, Ronan reached out and gently took her wrist.
Fia froze.
His touch was warm.
Too warm.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"You should be more careful," he said quietly. "My warriors don't hold back."
"I noticed," she replied.
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
Something unspoken lingered in the air between them.
Then suddenly.
A loud commotion erupted downstairs.
Voices.
Shouting.
The sound of doors slamming open.
Fia pulled her hand away.
"What's going on?"
Ronan's expression darkened.
He turned toward the door immediately.
"Stay here."
But Fia was already following him.
They moved quickly through the palace corridors, the noise growing louder as they approached the main hall.
Servants stood along the walls whispering nervously.
The massive entrance doors were open.
And standing there.
Was Hazel.
Fia stopped walking.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Hazel looked exactly the same as she remembered beautiful, confident, dressed in expensive clothes. But the expression on her face was far from the sweet smile she used to wear.
It was cold.
And furious.
The moment Hazel saw Fia standing beside Ronan, her eyes filled with rage.
"So it's true," Hazel said sharply.
The entire hall fell silent.
"You really replaced me."
Fia crossed her arms.
"You left."
Hazel scoffed.
"I left because I had business to handle. That doesn't mean you get to steal my place."
Fia felt anger bubbling in her chest.
"Your place?" she repeated. "You walked away from it."
Hazel stepped closer.
"Don't pretend you didn't plan this."
"I didn't plan anything," Fia replied calmly.
Hazel laughed bitterly.
"Of course you did. You've always been jealous of me."
Fia's eyes narrowed.
"You're wrong."
Hazel's gaze shifted toward Ronan.
"Tell her," she said. "Tell her she's just a temporary replacement."
The entire palace staff waited for Ronan's response.
But Ronan didn't hesitate.
"She is my mate."
The words echoed across the hall.
Hazel's face went pale.
"What?"
"You heard me," Ronan said coldly.
Hazel shook her head.
"That's impossible."
Ronan's golden eyes glowed faintly.
"The bond doesn't lie."
Hazel looked at Fia again, her expression twisting with hatred.
"You think this means you've won?"
Fia didn't respond.
Hazel leaned closer, her voice dropping into a whisper only Fia could hear.
"This isn't over."
Then she straightened and turned back to Ronan.
"I'm not leaving," Hazel announced.
Gasps spread across the hall.
"This palace is my home too," she continued. "And I will stay as long as I want."
Ronan's expression remained unreadable.
"Do what you wish," he said calmly.
But as Hazel walked away toward the guest wing, she shot one last venomous glare at Fia.
The message was clear.
War had begun.
Fia exhaled slowly.
"This is going to be a problem," she murmured.
Ronan glanced at her.
"You're finally starting to understand."
Fia looked back at Hazel's retreating figure.
Then she smiled faintly.
"Good," she said.
Ronan raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
Fia's eyes hardened.
"Because I'm not afraid of her anymore."
And somewhere deep inside the palace walls, the tension between the two sisters had already begun to spread like wildfire.
The battle for the Alpha's heart and the throne beside him had only just begun.