Chapter 77. Food and Bath

Simon clenched his fists. He wanted to run to Melva, to take her away from the pain she had endured, but fear rooted him to the ground. Not fear of the matebond—fear of himself. Fear that if he embraced it, there would be no turning back.

Still, he couldn’t ignore the truth. If he kept resisting, if he kept trying to live between two worlds—his desire for Riela and the pull toward Melva—it wouldn’t just break him. It could destroy Melva too.

And deep down, Simon knew one thing with certainty: Riela would never be his. She had made it clear—she only saw him as a brother, just like she did Gavriel. On top of that, the Alpha King had already given him a direct command to take Melva as his mate.

With that truth weighing on him, Simon finally gathered himself and asked to see the Queen Mother.

The Queen Mother lifted her gaze in surprise when Simon was announced at her door. It was unusual for him to seek her out, and even more so at this hour. “Simon?” sh