Chapter 19. Brotherly Love

Elliot's POV

The heavy doors of the palace close behind me with an ominous thud, and I'm enveloped in its shadowy grandeur once more. The scent of old wood and lingering incense weaves through the air, a stark contrast to the wild freedom outside these walls where Ally now roams, hopefully far from Nathan's reach.

"Elliot," echoes down the corridor, and I freeze, my heart pounding against my ribcage as if it's trying to escape the fate I'm about to face.

I turn, facing the direction of the call. My boots tap a steady rhythm on the marbled floor, a countdown to the inevitable confrontation. Lucas, Nathan's wolf, mirrors my tension, a silent storm brewing within him. I can almost feel his presence, a dark shadow lurking just beyond my peripheral vision.

"Brother," Nathan greets me as I enter the dimly lit hallway where he waits. There's no warmth in his tone, only the cold, calculating growl of a ruler who&