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 🤍

....

After dinner, Adele quickly left the dining hall. The moment she walked out, she found Torak waiting at the door.

Adele walked ahead without looking back. She asked fast, high on her nerve.

Torak followed behind her. He had the choice not to, yet he did. That alone irritated him. He would love the illusion of being able to ignore her.

Her hand suddenly shot back and grabbed his wrist, cutting him out of his train of thought.

Before he could react, she pulled him into a narrow corner tucked between two pillars where the light barely reached.

The place was dim and hidden.

Torak stilled instantly. This felt so wrong yet right in every way.

If someone sees them this way, it would destroy her whole image, and then, she might get cursed by the moon goddess.

Adele let go of his wrist slowly, but she didn’t step away.

For a second, neither of them spoke. There was a time when the silence between them didn’t feel like this.

"You shouldn’t be here," Torak said finally, breaking the silence.

He wasn’t unaffected by her presence in a proximity like this.

Adele tilted her head slightly, watching him. "Leave me be," she said softly, "you are not my bodyguard."

Torak’s jaw tightened. "That doesn’t mean anything."

Adele smiled faintly. "I need something from you," she said, going straight to the point.

Torak let out a quiet breath through his nose.

Of course she did.

"That’s the only time you come looking for me," he muttered.

Adele didn’t deny it. "If I came for anything else," she said, stepping just a little closer, "you wouldn’t know what to do with it."

Torak looked away for a second. "What do you want?" he whispered. He sounded less guarded.

Adele leaned slightly against the cold stone wall beside him. She had all the time in the world. If she get seen, she’d just kill whoever passed by.

"I want you to watch her."

Torak’s brows pulled together immediately. "Who?"

Adele didn’t answer right away. She watched his face instead. She let out a soft breath, and let her guard down. "Aire."

The name settled between them.

Torak went still again. "Same Alphas. And why," he asked slowly, "would I do that?"

Adele’s gaze didn’t waver. "Because I trust you." She said, matter of fact with a little bit of arrogance.

Torak let out a short, humorless breath. "No," he said. "you don’t."

Adele’s lips curved slightly. "Not anymore," she corrected. "Well, I trust you enough for this. That should be enough."

His heart dropped and immediately speed up again. He hated that she could do that.

He hated that she could step in, say one thing, and suddenly it felt like the past was standing right there between them, breathing.

Torak traced the sharp features of her face. His eyes rested on her little nose, and then returned to her vixen eyes. "I’m not getting involved in whatever you’re planning,"

His words came out weaker than he intended.

Adele noticed. That was all she needed to be sure he’d do her bidding. "I’m not asking you to get involved," she said calmly. "I’m asking you to watch."

"That’s involvement."

"It’s observation."

"That’s worse."

Adele paused. She shut her eyes, and exhaled through her nose. She clenched and unbleached her fist, then said. "She’s hiding something."

Torak’s eyes snapped back to her.

Adele held his gaze.

"Something happened today," she continued, quieter now, like the words were meant only for him, "King Elijah supported her tonight. They might be hiding somehthing. I want to know." She tok in a breath to calm herself. "I need to know."

Torak didn’t respond immediately.

"She’s not as small as she acts," Adele added. "And I want to know what she does when no one is looking."

Torak’s jaw flexed. "And you think I care enough to help you?"

Adele stepped closer again. Too close now. She was close enough that he could feel the faint warmth of her skin despite the cold stone behind her.

He could smell the flowers scent on her skin and hair.

Torak shut his eyes. He so much wanted to dig his fingers into those strands of dark hair and claim her lips.

"I think," she said softly, "you care enough about me."

Torak froze. He hated this feeling.

He was beta to one of the most powerful and influencing Alpha. He came from a stong bloodline of wolves who fought humans, defeated them, and still defeated the demons without having a break.

Yet, just the sight of this woman before him unravels him. Worse still, he can’t claim her. She wasn’t his mate, and she wouldn’t even accept him if he was.

"You always do this," he muttered. His green eyes stayed on her eyes, as he held on to his last restrain.

Adele didn’t move. "Do what?" she murmured, as if oblivious.

"Say it like it’s already decided."

Her expression didn’t change. "Because it usually is." she smiled. "You’ll do it."

Torak stared at her. He couldn’t find the version of her he used to know and yet, he couldn’t prove that version of her wasn’t there anymore.

Long.

"One night," he said finally.

Adele didn’t smile. Her eyes softened for a second, but never Los their edge. "One night," she agreed.

Torak pulled back first. Staying a second longer would make him forget why he souldnt.

"Don’t make me regret this," he added.

Adele stepped away, finally giving him space. "That depends on what you find," she said.

She offered him a light smile, and walked out of him.

.......

The door to Nate’s room slammed harder than necessary.

He didn’t notice. Or maybe he did, and just didn’t care.

His fingers flexed at his sides, with his claws threatening to push through skin that was already too tight.

It had been hours.

Hours, and he still couldn’t get that image out of his head.

He couldn’t get the imge of Aire sitting there like nothing touched her anymore out of his head.

His jaw clenched. "That’s not normal," he muttered to himself.

He could still remember the look she had in her eyes the day she killed the council elder. Everyone might get fooled by her cursed appearance, but he wasn’t.

He started pacing back and forth. Too fast, and completely restless.

His shirt hung loose now. His collar was now slightly torn where his form had shifted earlier just enough to relieve pressure, and not enough to satisfy it.

His wolf wasn’t calm. It pressed against him from the inside, agitated, alert, and fixated on her.

Nate dragged a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply.

"Why?"

The question slipped out before he could stop it. It didn’t make sense. Nothing about her did.

The way she doesn’t ’t defend herself and just existed like she was waiting for something, or herself was beginning to infuriate him.

His pace slowed, then stopped.

His eyes darkened slightly as the memory replayed. His father had sided with her. Pit in words for her?

Nate’s fingers curled slightly.

"She wasn’t surprised," he murmured.

That was it. That was what had been bothering him. Everything played out the way it did, and her reaction was as though she had already expected it.

His wolf stirred again, stronger this time.

A low growl built in his chest before he could stop it.

His body shifted slightly, with his bones tightening, and his muscles pulling, just enough to remind him how thin the line was right now.

"Stop," he hissed under his breath.

His mind moved to Aire all alone in her room. He wondered what she was doing now. Sleeping? Thinking? Planning?

His jaw clenched harder. "Or lying," he added quietly.

Nate exhaled slowly, forcing his body to settle.