The Royal Alpha

Chapter 22: The Witch

FENRIS

I move silently through the corridors of the she-wolves' dormitory, my steps careful, measured. The hour is late, the halls wrapped in a hush that feels almost reverent. I shouldn't be here. I know that. And yet, before I leave the school grounds—before I return to the Mystic Shadow Pack in search of truths that could unravel everything I thought I was—I need to see her once more.

One last time.

Sierra's rejection still sits raw beneath my skin. Not because she said no—but because she said it twice, and meant it. And because Elder Raoul confirmed what I had always sensed but never wanted to face: my adopted father knew about my royal lineage all along. Too many truths collided at once, leaving no room to breathe, no space to stay.

If Sierra had accepted me, I would have taken her with me without hesitation. I would have faced my past with her at my side. But that future no longer exists. Not now.

Still, I need to see her.

I focus inward, drawing on the control that has become second nature to me, allowing my form to slip into invisibility. The door to her room opens soundlessly beneath my touch, and I step inside.

Tatiana is asleep in her bed, her breathing slow and steady. Relief loosens something tight in my chest. I don't have the strength to explain myself—not tonight.

My attention shifts to the other bed.

Sierra lies curled beneath the covers, her features soft in sleep, free of fear and pain. I sit on the edge of the mattress, careful not to disturb her, and lift my hand. The back of my fingers brush her cheek, tracing warm, impossibly smooth skin.

The bond reacts instantly.

Sparks flare beneath my touch, sharp and undeniable, igniting every instinct I possess. Protect. Guard. Claim.

I cup her cheek fully, my palm dwarfing her delicate face. In her sleep, she leans into my hand, trusting, unaware—and the restraint it takes not to mark her nearly breaks me.

She chose her path. I will honor it.

But one thing is certain: I will never ask her again. I cannot survive another rejection. If she comes to me one day, it will be her choice—not mine forcing fate's hand.

I lean closer, inhaling deeply. Her scent fills me, grounding and intoxicating all at once. I press a kiss to her forehead, letting my lips linger longer than I should. The sparks intensify, rippling through me like a silent plea.

What would it feel like to kiss her everywhere?

The thought is dangerous.

I straighten abruptly, forcing distance between us before longing turns into weakness. I rise from the bed, committing her peaceful expression to memory. I would rather carry this version of her with me than the fear I saw in her eyes before.

I check once more—Tatiana still asleep, the hallway empty—then slip back into the shadows.

The elders will protect her while I uncover the truths buried in my past.

With that promise heavy in my chest, I leave the dormitory behind and head toward the land that shaped me—the pack that holds the answers I can no longer ignore.

~~~~~~~~

I continue toward the lands of my pack, letting the distance between the training school and myself widen with each measured step. Dawn is fully awake now, the horizon painted in deep reds and muted golds, a beautiful beginning to a day that feels anything but hopeful. The sky is calm, almost reverent—but my thoughts are not.