Chapter 33

Elvira POV

It was the night before the festival. The palace hummed with excitement, decorations, servants scurrying, gowns being tailored, perfumes being picked, endless chatter about who would wear what and who would escort who.

And yet... I hadn’t seen Alpha Jaxon since the fitting two days ago. He hadn’t come by like he said he would. Hadn’t asked to speak to me. Hadn’t said a word about the question I’d asked about his mate. He just vanished behind his title again.

I hated that it hurt.

“Let me walk you to your room,”Alpha Kale offered after I’d helped Brielle arrange some flowers at the outer balcony. His smile was warm, like someone who didn’t know how to make you ache. Someone simple. Uncomplicated.

“I’d like that,” I said, louder than I needed to, knowing full well where we w