Chapter 81

The palace halls felt colder than usual, every step echoing like a warning in my ears. Even after the soldiers had saved me from Lyra, a shadow of doubt lingered in my chest. Questions I didn’t dare voice churned in my mind

I kept replaying everything that had happened. My heart thudded painfully in my chest at the memory of Lyra’s blade, her smirk, the fear that had nearly paralyzed me. And then the soldiers, swift and precise, appeared out of nowhere and swept me to safety. My chest still tightened at the thought of what could have happened if they hadn’t.

But there was something… wrong. My instincts screamed at me. Alpha Caden had always been ruthless, unpredictable, and merciless. He had wanted me dead before, had believed I was aiding Lucian in trying to kill Cassian, his favorite son. So why now? Why spare me? The thought that relief could come from him seemed almost impossible, a cruel trick of my imagination.

Before I could spiral further, I received the su