Chapter 9
· Aubrey ·
The next week passes in a blur. Soren is always busy, up before the sun rises and coming back well after I’ve already fallen asleep.
Every night, I wait for him, hoping we’ll get a few moments to talk, but he’s exhausted by the time he walks through the door if I do catch him.
And every morning, the space beside me is cold, the bed already empty.
I keep telling myself I’ll find the right time to tell him everything about Rhett, about the truth I’ve been hiding—but the days slip by, and I still haven’t found that moment. Or maybe I’m just too scared to face what will happen when I finally do.
Soren’s been completely consumed by the meetings, trying to prevent a full-scale conflict between the packs and trying to stop the human councils from getting involved.
I can see the strain on his face, the exhaustion in his eyes whenever I do catch a glimpse of him.
The tension between Rhett’s Pack and my father’s is growing, and it feels like war is inevitable.
But it’s not just the meetings. Something shifted last week, right after that conversation with Rhett.
Soren’s become increasingly protective, almost overbearing, in a way I’ve never seen before.
He’s added more security around the castle, guards posted at every entrance, extra patrols at night.
Even when Max and I are inside, I feel eyes on us constantly.
It’s like he’s waiting for something, or someone, to make a move.
And then there’s the engagement, which was somehow leaked.
It’s all over the papers now. It’s strange seeing our names plastered across headlines, my face next to his in grainy shots while reporters try to figure out who the new lady is on his arm.
No one besides Rhett knew outside the castle, but suddenly, everyone’s talking about it.
Soren wasn’t happy when he found out. I still remember the look on his face when he saw the first article. “How did this get leaked?” he’d asked, his voice tight, as if he was barely holding back his frustration. “I haven’t even announced it yet. The council doesn’t even know.”
I get ready for bed by myself once again. Max is asleep in the room next door, Soren had his room moved closer and the castle is quiet, the only sound is the faint hum of the wind outside. I pull the curtains shut, wrapping my arms around myself.
I hear the door creak open behind me, and for a second, I think maybe it’s Soren finally coming to bed early, but it’s just one of the guards checking the hall.
He nods at me briefly before continuing his rounds.
I sigh, turning back to the window, the view of the darkened grounds hidden behind the thick curtains.
I need to tell Soren. Every day I spend lying to him feels like another piece of myself is breaking away. And now, with our engagement out in the open, I feel like I’m drowning in a web of lies that I don’t know how to untangle.
I want to believe everything will be okay, that Soren will find a way to stop the war before it starts, that Rhett will back off and leave me alone. I know better. Things are spiraling out of control, and I’m at the center of it.