Sylvia’s POV

I closed the bedroom door behind me.

Charna paced restlessly within me, her instincts screaming that something was off. I tried desperately not to replay Caesar and Helena’s conversation in my head, opening the work files saved on my phone, using spreadsheets and reports as a shield against my spiraling anxiety.

Ten minutes into reviewing quarterly projections, my phone buzzed. Morgana’s name lit up the screen.

"Hey, gorgeous," her familiar voice instantly soothed my frayed nerves. "I was just thinking about you. How’s married life treating you?"

I couldn’t hide the exhaustion in my voice. "It’s... complicated."

The silence on the other end stretched for exactly three seconds before Morgana’s protective instincts kicked into overdrive. "What did he do? Do I need to come over there and castrate someone?"

"No, no," I laughed despite myself. "It’s not Caesar. It’s just...Helena."

"The psycho bitch?" Morgana’s voice could have cut glass. "What the hell is she doing there?"

"Apparently her brother is Caesar’s oldest friend," I explained, sinking deeper into the plush armchair.

"Syl, listen to me," Morgana interrupted with the authority of someone who’d known me for fifteen years. "You are not the insecure woman who let Zane walk all over her. You’re a goddamn warrior who built a business empire from scratch. Don’t let some desperate ex make you forget who you are."

Her words hit like a shot of espresso to my soul.

"You’re right," I said, feeling strength returning to my voice. "I know I am. It’s just..."

"It’s just your trauma talking," she said gently. "And that’s okay. But Caesar chose you, Syl. Not her. You."

My heart started to settle back into its normal rhythm.

"You know what?" Morgana continued with renewed energy. "We need a girls’ day. Shopping, spa treatments, maybe some day drinking. When’s your next free weekend?"

"Actually, that sounds perfect," I said, already feeling lighter. "How about next Saturday?"

"Consider it done. I’ll pick you up at ten, and we’re going to spend an obscene amount of money on things we don’t need."

By the time I hung up, the knot in my chest had loosened considerably. Morgana always knew exactly what to say to remind me of my own strength.

I was just setting my phone down when I heard the bedroom door open.

Caesar walked in, his expression carefully controlled as he closed the door behind him.

"Helena’s gone," he said, his voice deliberately neutral.

I turned to face him, making a split-second decision that I was done with games. "Caesar, if there’s something you need to tell me—something important you’ve been hiding—this is your chance."

His eyes widened slightly, those golden flecks burning brighter in his dark irises.

"I hate secrets between mates," I continued, my voice steady despite my heart hammering against my ribs. "I lived through enough lies with Zane to last ten lifetimes. I won’t do it again—not even with you."

Caesar moved toward me, tension radiating from every line of his powerful frame. For a moment, I thought he might deflect or dismiss my concerns with some political non-answer.

Instead, he sank onto the edge of our bed, running both hands through his dark hair. "William Blackwood," he said finally. "Helena’s brother. I think he’s planning to challenge my position as Wolf King."

I hadn’t seen that coming. "William? But isn’t he—"

"My oldest friend? The person I trusted most?" Caesar’s laugh was bitter and hollow. "Yeah. That’s exactly what makes this feel like a knife to the gut."

I sat beside him, close enough to feel his warmth but not touching. "Tell me about him." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Caesar’s eyes focused on something far beyond the walls of our bedroom. "We grew up together. Trained together. Two alpha heirs being groomed to rule. We pushed each other, challenged each other to be better." His voice softened with genuine affection.

The pain in his voice was unmistakable. "We graduated from Alpha Academy together. Became pack leaders within months of each other. When my father died and the weight of being Wolf King crashed down on me, William was the first to pledge his loyalty."

"And now you think he wants to destroy you?"

Caesar nodded, his jaw tightening. "Dylan’s intelligence reports show William making moves that don’t add up." His fists clenched so tight his knuckles went white. "The man took a blade meant for me, Sylvia. I watched him bleed to save my life. And now..."

Understanding crashed over me like a cold wave. "That’s why Helena is really here. You’re keeping her close to monitor William."

"Yes," Caesar confirmed.

I reached for his hand, threading my fingers through his. "Why didn’t you just tell me this from the beginning?"

He squeezed my hand like it was his lifeline. "I’ve spent years building fortress walls around myself, Sylvia. Protecting everything that matters." His eyes met mine, guilt flickering in their golden depths. "Old habits die hard, even with you."

I processed his words, turning them over in my mind. He’d shared something significant—a vulnerability I hadn’t expected from the Wolf King. But Charna whined softly within me, her instincts still unsettled.

Something was still missing.

"Is that everything?" I asked quietly.

A shadow crossed his face so quickly I almost missed it.

"Yes," he said, his voice steady as stone. "That’s everything."

I moved closer, placing my hand against his cheek. "I’m not Helena, and I’m not William. I won’t betray you, Caesar. Whatever storm is coming, whatever tries to tear us apart—I’ll stand and fight by your side."

His eyes darkened as he leaned into my touch. "Sylvia..."

I pressed my lips to his, silencing whatever he’d been about to say. The kiss was gentle at first, then deepened with the hunger that always burned between us.

When we broke apart, I rested my forehead against his. "I know exactly what it’s like to be stabbed in the back by someone you trusted completely. But I also know what it’s like to find strength in the most unexpected places." I smiled softly. "Let me be that strength for you."

His arms tightened around me like I might disappear. "Thank you," he whispered against my hair.

But even as I melted into his embrace, Charna’s restless pacing told me this conversation wasn’t over.

There were still secrets between us.

And eventually, they would surface.