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

me alone until I got answers. Finally, I sighed and stepped back, opening the door wider. "Now that

behind him and turned to face him, crossing my arms over my chest. The gesture wasn't meant to be hostile-it was more for self-preservation. With Holt, emotions always felt too raw,

been?" Holt asked,

I answered quickly, keeping it short. I didn't want this to

light but edged with

it wouldn't fool him. Holt had always been able to

place," I said vaguely, hoping

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

"That's why I'm here,"

words confusing me. "What

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

his voice that made my

happened?" I said,

softer

now.

he continued, "my

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 to my mouth in shock. I'd been angry at his family for so long-for how they treated me, for the chaos they brought into my life-but I'd never wished for anything like this. "I'm so sorry,"

"It's not your fault," he said

in his

voice

to hold on, but when she heard about our mother...

his sister. "She's... struggling," he admitted, his She's in a mental institution

your

words, and for the first time in a long while, I felt something other than anger toward him and his family.

own

so so much

his expression shifting to something resolute. "Now, I think it's time for me to return the

Majesty is seeking new alliances Holt said, his voice steady. "I came here to help. Whatever you need, I'm

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 if he were carrying the weight of the world. "After everything fell apart, I

eag His voice was steady, but there was an edge of vulnerability

my t

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

I

not just words. To him, this duel isn't just about power-it's about trust. He needs to know I'm committed to his pack and his leadership.

Holt nodded, his

gaze

my chest tightening at the thought of the

his eyes meeting mine with

me-it's a test for Titus too. The

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