Chapter 111

+5

SAGE

The man escorted us down a dimly lit hallway to our rooms. When we reached the end, I hesitated, glancing back just in time to see Titus and Anna step into two separate rooms. My curiosity sparked, but I quickly shoved it aside. It wasn't my business, and I had no reason to get tangled up in whatever Titus was doing.

I pushed open the door to my room and stepped inside, letting out a loud sigh as I closed it behind me. The silence wrapped around me like a heavy blanket, and I pressed my back against the door, trying to gather my thoughts. It hadn't even been a few minutes when I heard a soft knock.

person

you expected to to see, he

Startled, I straightened, figuring tall frame filling the doorway, his expression unreadable. it must be Elara checking in. I moved quickly to open the door, but when I did, I froze.

," he said, a small, almost sheepish smile tugging at his lips.

stood on the other side,

"I'm probably the last

his

"Holt" I breathed, my voice a mix of confusion and disbelief. "What are you doing here?"

I

"Can I come in?" he asked, his tone calm, but there was an undercurrent of something heavier-urgency, maybe.

I

I crossed my arms and leaned against the doorframe, narrowing

my eyes slightly. "That depends. What's the purpose of this visit?"

"I just want to talk," he said, his gaze steady, like he was trying to convince me of his sincerity. anything to talk about?" I countered, my words blunt but not harsh.

"DO

we ever even have

"A lot, actually" he replied, a flicker of something I couldn't name crossing his face. "You're probably wondering why I'm here."

I studied him for a moment, my

alone until I got answers. Finally, I

how to proceed. I closed the door behind him and turned to face him, crossing my arms

you been?" Holt asked, his tone soft but

I didn't want this to turn into a deep

the sound light but edged with

smile, though I knew it wouldn't fool him. Holt had always been able to see through me,

put everything back in its rightful place," I

didn't quite reach his eyes. "I know," he

"That's why I'm here,"

his words confusing me. "What do you

a lot to you and His Majesty," he began. "If it weren't for the two of you... I'd have lost the last bit

a heaviness in his voice that

I

softer

now.

everything came out," he continued, "my father

before he added, "My mother couldn't handle the shame. The guilt. She..." He hesitated, his voice breaking slightly. "She took her own life." My breath caught, and my hand flew

gave me a bitter smile. "It's not your fault," he said

in his

voice

on, but when she heard about our mother... it was too much. She completely fell apart. I resisted at first-I

tugged at something deep inside me. "How's Annika?" I asked cautiously, remembering his sister. "She's... struggling," he admitted, his She's in a mental institution now. It's the best place for

your

other than anger toward him and his family. "I had no idea you'd been through all this," I said softly. "You've had

own

done so so much for

it. And now..." He hesitated, his expression shifting to something resolute. "Now, I think it's time for me to

know His Majesty is seeking new alliances Holt said, his voice steady. "I came

and for a moment, all I could do was stare at him. Holt had changed-there was no denying that-and I couldn't help but wonder if his presence might be exactly what we needed. of the chair in my room, his shoulders tense as

but there was an edge of vulnerability

my t

the e table, my arms crossed. "And now, he's using you to test

I

words. To him, this duel isn't just about power-it's about trust. He needs to know

Holt nodded, his

gaze

Titus?" I asked, my chest tightening at the thought of

his eyes meeting mine with a grim

test for me-it's a test for Titus too. The winner earns the Alpha's trust and, by extension, his support for the

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