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 🤍

.......

Torches lined the walls as Aire walked back to her room. The flames casted long shadows that stretched and twisted along the stone. The echoes of the dinner still clung to the air, faint and lingering.

Aire walked alone.

Her steps were steady, and unhurried. The weight of the evening still sat on her shoulders, but she carried it well.

Her fingers brushed lightly against the side of her gown as she approached her door.

"Was that your plan all along?"

Her hand stilled on the handle when a sharp voice hit her ears.

Aire didn’t turn immediately. She exhaled once, then she faced him.

Damien stood at the far end of the corridor, just where the shadows thickened. He leaned on the wall, and it was obvious he had been waiting for her.

His gaze locked onto hers the moment she turned.

"You followed me?" Aire asked calmly.

Damien let out a quiet scoff as he stepped forward. "Don’t flatter yourself."

His steps echoed louder than hers had. "I wanted answers." He said.

Aire tilted her head slightly, studying him. "Then you should have asked at the table." She held on to the sharp edge of her voice.

"You think I’d humiliate myself like that?" His voice dropped, rougher now. "In front of them?"

Aire didn’t respond.

Damien stopped just a step away from her. He stood too close for someone who wasn’t her mate. He stood close enough for her to feel the tension radiating off him.

"Why didn’t you choose me?" he asked. He demanded answers.

Aire’s expression didn’t change.

"King Elijah offered you everything," Damien continued, his voice tightening. "A way out. He offered you power and protection." His jaw clenched. "You had a choice." He half yelled.

Aire met his gaze fully now. "Yes," she said simply. "I did."

Irritation and disbelief flickered in his eyes. "Then why?" he pressed. "Why didn’t you choose me?"

"I chose you once." Aire said, amused. Her voice didn’t waver, as she tried to point out a fact.

Damien’s expression tightened.

"You rejected me." Aire continued, her tone sharpening just slightly. "I now have the power to make real changes." Her gaze didn’t waver when she continued. "I’m sure you didn’t expect me to give that up for you."

Damien’s reaction was instant. His hand shot out, and he gripped her arm before she could move.

Aire’s body jerked slightly from the force, her back brushing against the door behind her.

The handle dug into her spine, and pain flared through her back. However, her face didn’t show it.

"Power?" Damien repeated, his voice low, dangerous. His grip tightened once her, now harder. "You think this is power?"

He stepped closer, crowding her, and trapping her between his body and the door.

"This?" he gestured vaguely, his other hand cutting through the air. "Being paraded in front of wolves who despise you? Marked like—"

"Careful," Aire cut in quietly. "You don’t get to talk to me about humiliation," she continued, her voice still even. "Not after what you did."

Damien’s jaw clenched harder. His grip didn’t loosen. If anything, it got worse.

"You think I regret it?" he asked, almost a challenge. "Once a curse, always a curse."

Aire held his gaze. "I think you’re angry I didn’t come crawling back."

That did it. That got a violent beast out of him.

His hand slammed against the door beside her head, and a loud crack echoed through the corridor.

The wood rattled yet Aire didn’t flinch. She had been subjected to a lot of violence for a little cartoonish act to get to her.

Her fingers curled slightly at her sides.

"Don’t push me," Damien warned, breathing hard.

"And what exactly will you do if she does?"

The voice didn’t come from Aire. Both of them froze for a second. Then, a presence filled the corridor.

Alaric stood there. He stood at the far end, where Damien had been moments ago. Alaric controlled the space where he stood, and owned it.

His steps were slow as he walked forward, unhurried.

His gaze never left Damien. "You seem very comfortable," Alaric continued, voice low, "putting your hands where they don’t belong."

Damien didn’t move. He didn’t release her, but his posture shifted. "Stay out of this," Damien said, his tone sharp.

Alaric didn’t stop walking. "Let her go." He ordered, simple, and flat.

For a moment, no one moved. The air tightened, as it got thicker and heavier.

Then, Damien scoffed. However, his grip loosened, just slightly.

"Or what?" he challenged.

Alaric stopped a few steps away now.

His gaze flicked briefly to Aire’s arm. To where Damien’s fingers still held her, then back to Damien.

His expression changed. "You don’t want to find out." He said, now cold.

A beat passed.

Then, Damien released her. He pushed her out of his grip. Aire straightened immediately, pulling her arm back to herself.

Her skin burned where he had held her, but her expression stayed composed, and untouched.

Damien took a step back. His gaze moved between them.

"This isn’t over," he muttered, more to her than to Alaric. Then he turned, and walked away.

Silence followed his departure.

Aire exhaled quietly. Her fingers flexed once, then stilled.

Alaric didn’t move. "Are you hurt?" His voice had changed. Still deep and controlled, but they were softer now.

Aire looked at him. "No." She thinned her lips. "I can handle myself."

Alaric’s gaze held hers. "I know. However, you’re now my Luna."

Aire didn’t react to this.

His eyes dropped briefly to her arm again. To where Damien had grabbed her, and his jaw tightened.

He stepped back, giving her space.

Aire reached for her door again. Her fingers wrapped around the handle.

She paused for a second. "Thank you." It came out almost reluctantly.

Alaric didn’t respond immediately. "You don’t need to thank me." His gaze didn’t leave her. "Not for that. You’re my Luna."

Aire opened the door, stepped inside, and closed it behind her.

The corridor fell silent again, and Alaric stood there watching her door, as his wolf whimpered in his head like an abandoned puppy.

His wolf stirred restlessly, unsettled by the distance between them.