The courtyard was alive with a riot of colors. Golden afternoon light filtered through the high stone arches, spilling over manicured hedges of deep emerald and walkways lined with crushed white stone. Vines of night-blooming jasmine, still tightly coiled from the morning, clung to the pillars, their sweet, sharp scent hanging thick in the warm air.

In the center of the grounds, a low stone fountain bubbled, the clear water catching the sun like liquid glass as it trickled into a shallow pool. The gentle hum of bumblebees droned beneath the rustle of the rose bushes, their velvet red petals fully unfurled to drink in the heat.

Suddenly, the heavy wooden doors at the edge of the terrace groaned open. Odesse and Valex walked in, moving slowly and deliberately, with Valex’s arm wrapped around the back of Odesse. They stood at the top of the terrace and began walking down into the garden. Odesse breathed in slowly, and her face instantly glowed. Valex released his hand from her back and asked, "How do you feel?"

She looked at him with a wide smile and replied, "I feel better." As she ventured deeper into the garden, her legs picked up speed as she twirled. Valex watched her from behind, a smile on his lips while he walked slowly. Odesse turned to look at him, her smile radiant as the sun illuminated her skin, making her shine brightly. Valex’s eyes widened, his heart skipped a beat, and his face turned a bright crimson red. He covered his face with his hand and smiled.

Odesse approached him, stepping too close, and then wrapped her arms around him in a warm embrace. Valex, taken by surprise, removed his hands from his face and looked down to see his wife hugging him passionately. He smiled and wrapped his arms around her as well, asking, "My love, what is it?"

Odesse smiled back, saying, "I just felt like hugging you." Valex smirked as he caressed her hair. Odesse continued, "I’m really happy that you’re here with me," tears beginning to run down her cheeks. She looked up at him, and Valex’s expression shifted to one of panic as he asked, "What’s wrong, my love? Why are you crying?"

Odesse gently wiped her tears and replied, "I’m happy—very happy." He smiled and held her face softly, saying, "Even if you weren’t here with me, I would still find my way to you in every life, my love."

Odesse smirked and asked, "Is that a promise?"

Valex replied, "On my life."

Odesse laughed, and Valex watched her, his eyes softening as his hands rested on her hips. She gently released herself from his hold, and they walked side by side, holding hands. She looked around the garden and at Valex, asking, "Which is your favorite flower, my king?"

He smiled, glanced around, and then back at her, responding, "Which one captivates your eyes the most?"

Odesse shrugged and said, "I can’t really think of any at the moment, but what does that have to do with the question I asked?"

Valex brushed her thumb and explained, "When you find one that captivates your eyes, then you will have found my favorite."

Odesse laughed and replied, "My king, but that would mean..." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Valex interrupted, "Whatever my wife loves, I love it too, and whatever she despises, I do as well."

Odesse’s eyes softened, and her cheeks flushed a deep red as they continued walking.

...

They walked in comfortable silence for a while, their fingers laced tightly together as they followed the winding path. The only sounds were the soft crunch of white stones beneath their boots and the distant, soothing trickle of a fountain. Odesse leaned her head against his shoulder for a brief moment, soaking in the warmth of the sun and the reality of his presence.

But after a few more paces, her steps began to drag, and a slight heaviness settled over her eyelids. She slowed down, her grip on his hand tightening for support.

She looked up at him, a sheepish smile on her lips. "My king... my legs are feeling quite tired."

Valex stopped immediately, his face softening with gentle concern. "My love," he said softly, his voice filled with affection. He glanced around the path and spotted a white marble bench tucked beneath an archway shaded by climbing ivy. "Come, let’s sit."

He guided her carefully to the bench, keeping his arm securely around her waist until she sank onto the cool stone. Valex sat right beside her, not letting go of her hand. He looked at her pale but beautiful face, and the playful smile faded from his lips as the heavy reality of his meeting with the High Chief crept back into his mind.

Odesse noticed the shift in his eyes. The easy, mischievous look he usually gave her was gone, replaced by a quiet, brooding seriousness.

She squeezed his hand. "My king? What is it?"

Valex hesitated. "The High Chief and I spoke about something that has been weighing on my mind since I left the Apex Pack."

Odesse sat up straight, looking at him while holding his hands softly. "What is it that bothers you, my king?"

Valex replied, "Since Malrik has gone missing and is probably dead, the Silverclaw stands without a king. The High Chief is appointing a noble family as the new royal family of the Silverclaw Pack."

Odesse smiled nervously, confused about how to respond. "Is that good news or bad news for you?"

Valex smiled back but continued, "In a way, it is bad news because my fathers efforts over the years will go down the drain because of Malrik’s foolish decision. However, it is good that a new family will take over; maybe they can bring a breath of fresh air for the people living there."

Odesse looked at him, seeing sadness written all over his face behind his smile. Her eyes turned to worry. "Why don’t you become king again?"

Valex gazed at her slowly and said, "I cannot do that, my love."

"Why not?" Odesse asked.

He smiled and gently touched her face. "If I do, I won’t have time for you anymore."

Odesse put on a wry smile. "But you do not want your fathers efforts to go to waste."

Valex paused for a moment, looking down. "The Silverclaw Pack is a kingdom built on the foundation laid by my fathers, and it has been tainted by Malrik. I want to build the Moonlight Pack for my future heir. I want this kingdom to blossom far better than any other."

He looked at Odesse, his eyes softening. "And if I want that to be possible, I have to always be with my wife." He pressed his forehead against hers, his breath warm against her chest. "Being far from you could kill me."

Odesse could feel her heartbeat getting louder and her legs growing numb as her breath hitched. Valex lowered his head to her bosom, listening intently. "My love, your heart is about to burst out of your chest."

Odesse’s face brightened, and she bit her lip slightly, covering her face as she said, "You’re always teasing me, my king."

Valex sat upright and laughed, looking at her. She opened her fingers to reveal her eyes, which looked at him lovingly, warming her heart. Slowly, she took her hands from her face and placed them in her lap. He stopped laughing and, touching her face, rubbed both sides of her cheeks gently. "You are really cute, my wife. How could I not tease you?"

With her face cupped in his hands, Odesse pouted her lips and furrowed her brows slightly. Valex gazed at her passionately. "You don’t know what you do to me, my love. I feel like a fool in love, but I honestly do not wish to grow wiser."

He released his hands from her face, and she looked down. "You always make me blush, and my heart skips too much."

Valex smiled at her, and she raised her head to meet his gaze. "One day, I’ll make you blush and make your heart skip just as much as you make mine," she declared.

Valex bent down and whispered into her ear, his breath warm against her neck, "I can’t wait, my love."

Odesse’s ears turned red as her neck blossomed with a cherry blossom hue. Valex smirked as he pulled back.

...

There was a comfortable silence as they both looked around the garden. Odesse leaned her head against Valex’s chest while he placed his hands lazily on her waist. She asked, "Is that all that bothered you, my king?"

Valex replied, "There was another thing he told me."

Odesse asked, "What is it?" Valex hesitated for a few seconds before responding, "Since the new royal family will need the palace, my mother will have to leave, and the place the high chief suggested was my palace."

Odesse raised her head and sat up straight. "Is that good news or bad news?" she asked. Valex looked at her and smiled. "My dear wife, I am certain that is bad news."

Odesse questioned, "Why is that?" Valex’s expression slumped as he said, "My mother and I do not get along, my love. So seeing her in the palace will be a heavy burden for me."

Odesse gently placed her hands on his lap. "What happened that made your relationship with your mother strained?" she inquired.

Valex slowly looked at her, then turned his gaze toward the beautiful flowers in the garden. The wind rustled the trees, creating a moment of silence. "Our relationship got strained when I was thirteen," he began. "Malrik was ten at that time, and he went missing."

Odesse’s eyes widened. "What?"

Valex continued, "My father sent out guards to look for him, but they never found him. A month passed, and on a bright morning, I found him outside the palace gate. He looked traumatized. I went to him, but he could not speak. He only walked past me. Since that day, the bond between Malrik and me was never the same. He started speaking only after five months of returning, and he began doing unethical things. I was blamed for his actions, but I always took the blame because he was my baby brother. My mother would take his side and punish me. I wondered why my mother and brother started hating me; I felt so alone. But my father maintained his love for both me and Malrik. When he died and I took over the pack, Malrik was not happy about it, and that must have been when he placed a curse upon me. On the day I was being dethroned, I watched my mother stand beside Malrik while the people called me the ’cursed alpha.’ She never spoke a word to let me stay. I left the pack, and I never want to sit on that throne and rule over those people."

Odesse looked at him, tears streaming down her face, and her lips quivering. Valex’s face filled with concern. "My love, what is wrong?"

Odesse wiped her face, but the tears kept coming. "I am really sorry about that, my king," she said.

Valex smiled gently. "My sensitive wife, I see no reason for you to apologize." She wiped her tears once more and said, "There must be a reason why your mother acted that way. The day she came for lunch, she seemed happy to see you."

Valex looked away. "I do not wish to know."

Odesse raised her hands and turned his face toward hers. She looked into his eyes and said, "I know it’s hard, my king, but you don’t want your mother living on the streets or severing ties with her without finding out the truth."

With a smile, she continued, "I lost my parents at a very young age, but I want to know what it feels like to have a mother. I do not wish to play savior between you both, but I want to see you happy, and true happiness comes from forgiveness. So why not invite her over, and we can all talk as a family?"

Valex looked at her, his face brightening as he said, "What would life be like if I did not have you by my side?"

Odesse smirked and teased, "A jam."

He smiled and replied, "Yes, a jam indeed." He lowered his head to rest on her bosom, and Odesse looked at him, her face warm as she held his head and gently caressed his hair.

He said, "Alright, my love, I shall do as you say."

Odesse smiled and said, "Thank you, my king."

Valex said softly, "Your heart is beating so unnaturally fast."

Odesse’s eyes widened in embarrassment. He buried his head deeper into her bosom, trying to find a comfortable position, then relaxed with his eyes closed. "I love it very much. Your heart beats for me, as much as mine beats for you, my love."