Alright... let’s make this fun for all of us. 😌

Here’s how I’m rewarding you, my special readers, and the ink to my pen.

1. Hit a top ranking for a week straight → mass release of 3 Chapters.

2. Send a super gift → mass release of 5 Chapters.

Now for the real mischief, these are the rewards. Also, this is where the real chaos lies.

1. Top interactive reader in a week → gets a shoutout

2. One-time super gift → gets a Chapter dedicated to you.

3. Repeated super gifts → you start getting little spoilers + future hints.

4. Highest Golden Ticket sender of the month (20–30 range) → you get a permanent role in the book

Yes, an actual role. 😅🥹 Immortality secured.

Let’s build this story together 🤍

....

Torak cornered Xanden and Nate the moment they stepped out of Aire’s wing.

The heavy door closed behind them with a quiet click, sealing the corridor in an uneasy silence.

Torak had clearly been waiting.

He stood straight, his hands clasped behind his back, with his expression composed as always.

"Your father requests a word with you two," Torak reported, directing the message toward Xanden with a respectful incline of his head.

Nate slowed to a stop.

"Now?" he asked, raising a brow.

"Yes," Torak replied with a small bow.

Nate glanced briefly at the door behind them before looking back at Torak.

"He doesn’t want Alaric?" he asked again.

"No," Torak said. "Just both of you."

Xanden frowned slightly.

Their father rarely summoned them this early unless something required immediate attention.

Before either of them could respond, hurried footsteps echoed from the far end of the corridor.

Torak noticed first.

Adele appeared around the corner.

She looked far from her usual polished self. Her hair was only loosely brushed, and her night gown flowed around her ankles as she moved quickly toward them.

Her expression was tense and agitated. Yet the moment she saw the Alphas clearly, she slowed.

Her posture straightened.

A practiced composure settled over her face. She approached them with careful grace and stopped a few steps away.

Then she bowed deeply.

"My Alphas," she greeted softly.

Neither Nate nor Xanden acknowledged her.

They continued speaking with Torak as if she had not even entered the corridor.

"Did he say why?" Xanden asked.

Torak shook his head slightly. "No."

Adele remained bowed for a moment longer before rising slowly.

Her eyes moved between the two Alphas, clearly waiting for recognition. "My Alphas, I—"

Nate’s gaze snapped toward her suddenly. The sharpness of it cut through her words immediately.

His eyes narrowed.

"Why are you in this wing?" he asked flatly.

The question made Adele freeze.

For a moment, she simply stared at him. "I... came to see you," she replied carefully.

Nate’s expression darkened. "This is Aire’s wing." His tone carried clear disapproval. "You have no business here."

Adele’s fingers tightened slightly at her sides.

"I heard she was unwell last night," she said, trying to keep her voice gentle. "I thought it would be appropriate for me to—"

"She’s fine." Nate cut her off before she could finish.

His voice was cold, and detached. He sounded impatient.

Xanden finally glanced at her then, his calm gaze offering no warmth either.

"You should return to your chambers," he said simply.

Adele felt heat rise to her cheek. She had rushed here in panic after hearing the rumor from Michelle.

After hearing that the Alphas had spent the night in Aire’s room. And now they stood before her acting as if she were the one behaving improperly.

"I only wished to greet you this morning," she said, forcing a small smile.

Nate looked unimpressed.

"You came to greet us," he repeated slowly. "In her wing?"

Adele had no answer for that.

Nate exhaled sharply through his nose.

"Torak."

The Beta straightened immediately. "Yes, Alpha."

"Take her away."

Adele blinked in disbelief. "What?"

Nate’s gaze hardened. "You heard me."

His voice left no room for argument.

"You don’t belong here."

Adele’s pride flared. "I came because I was concerned," she insisted. "And because I thought—"

"What you thought doesn’t matter."

Nate’s patience was clearly gone now.

His eyes flicked toward Torak again. "Remove her."

Torak gave a small nod. "Yes, Alpha."

He stepped toward Adele and gestured down the corridor. "This way."

Adele did not move. Her eyes flickered briefly toward the door behind the Alphas.

Aire’s door.

The fury burning in her chest tightened painfully.

"So this is how you treat me?" she said quietly.

Neither Nate nor Xanden responded.

Their silence stung worse than any insult.

Torak waited patiently beside her.

Adele finally turned away, her night gown swaying as she walked down the corridor with stiff dignity.

Torak followed beside her.

Behind them, Nate ran a hand through his hair with irritation.

"Unbelievable," he muttered.

.....

Torak arrived at Adele’s chambers almost immediately.

She pushed the door open without waiting for the maid stationed outside to announce her and walked in with quick, furious steps.

Torak followed.

He had meant to stop at the doorway. He had meant to simply ensure she returned safely and left.

Instead, the door closed behind him with a quiet thud.

Adele spun around the moment they were inside.

Her composure shattered. "Are you satisfied now?" she snapped.

Torak said nothing. He stood near the door, his posture relaxed, and his expression unreadable.

The calmness only irritated her further.

"Of course you are," she continued bitterly. "You always enjoy watching this, don’t you?"

Still, he said nothing.

Adele paced across the room, her bare feet moving quickly over the polished floor.

"I was humiliated," she said sharply. "Right in front of you."

Torak leaned lightly against the wall. "You humiliated yourself," he said calmly.

Adele stopped.

Slowly, she turned to face him. "You think this is funny?"

He said nothing. He simply stared at her, and that did it.

Adele marched toward him, with anger burning in her dark eyes.

"This is your fault," she accused.

Torak’s brow lifted slightly. "My fault?"

"Yes!" she burst out. "You were supposed to tell them I was there."

"I didn’t need to," Torak replied evenly. "You announced yourself quite well."

Her hands curled into fists. "You’ve always enjoyed making things worse for me."

Torak watched her in silence.

Adele took another step closer.

"You think you’re clever," she continued, her voice shaking now with frustration. "Standing there like you’re above all of this."

Suddenly she lifted her hand and slammed her fist against his chest. The impact wasn’t strong, but it was sharp.

"This," she snapped, hitting him again, "is your fault."

Another hit.

"You could have stopped them from humiliating me."

Another.

"You could have said something!"

Her fists kept striking his chest, over and over. Sadly, each frustrated blow was weaker than the last.

Torak endured the first few without reacting. But eventually his patience wore thin.

His hand shot out suddenly and he caught both of her wrists.

"Adele." His voice dropped low with warning.

She tried to pull free. "Let go." She spat venomously.

Torak moved faster.

With one firm motion he pushed her backward until her back met the wall. Her breath caught softly as the impact stopped her.

His hands still held her wrists pinned lightly against the stone.

The room fell silent.

For the first time since entering, neither of them spoke.

Torak looked down at her.

His gaze moved slowly across her face, as if seeing her clearly for the first time in a long while.

He stared into her dark eyes, her flushed cheeks, and back into her eyes, watching the anger still burning there.

Adele noticed the way he was staring.

Her breathing slowed. Her eyes searched his face as well. She stared at him as if remembering something she had long tried to forget.

Then both of their gazes drifted downward.

To each other’s lips.

The distance between them had vanished.

Their faces were so close their breaths mingled in the small space between them.

Adele swallowed.

Torak let out a heavy breath.

The tension between them stretched tight and it was dangerous. Years they spend sneaking around flashed between their self control, and their wild side ready to give in.

"Stay away," Adele murmured softly.

Her voice lacked its earlier bite.

It sounded... strained.

"If you’ve ever cared for me," she added quietly, gripping the last of her restraint, "step away."

Torak didn’t move immediately. For a moment it looked like he might ignore her.

Then, slowly, he released her wrists.

He stepped back and the sudden distance felt almost cold.

Adele straightened her gown, refusing to look at him now.

Torak ran a hand through his hair before letting out a quiet breath.

"You’ve changed," he said after a moment.

Adele laughed bitterly. "Of course I have."

His gaze hardened slightly. "You walk around those Alphas like they’re the center of the world." he paused like he didn’t want to say his next words. He parted his lips, and said them anyway. "Like you’ve forgotten the girl you used to be."

Adele’s head snapped toward him. "And what girl was that?"

Torak didn’t answer.

For a brief moment something flickered across Adele’s face. Her eyes softened, then it vanished almost immediately.

"You should leave," she said coldly.

Torak studied her for another long second. Then he turned and walked out without another word.

The door closed behind him quietly.

Adele remained where she stood, her chest rising and falling slowly.

Her fingers brushed unconsciously against the place on her wrist where he had held her.