Flora - POV "Mom," Belle began, but hesitated to move further into the cell. "Belle," Shirley whispered, her eyes meeting mine. "Flora, why are you both here?" Her voice trembled with worry. "Is it true that you helped Elton escape?" I asked. She met my gaze. "Yes," Shirley admitted softly, lowering her head in guilt. I turned to Belle, who looked stunned. "Why did you help him, Mom? I know there's more to it. Please tell me," Belle pressed, her voice breaking. "I admit it, Alpha Ryker. I worked with Elton," Shirley confessed. It felt like a blow to hear this. Why? Shirley had always seemed to want to protect me. She had guided me to safety and even convinced Belle to help me get back on my feet. None of this made sense. "I'm sorry, Flora, but it's true," Shirley added. "Stop, Mom. You're lying. What aren't you telling us? Who are you trying to protect that you'd willingly face punishment?" Belle demanded. Shirley looked at Ryker. "I've confessed. I pleaded with you not to inv

Flora – POV I woke up with an intense headache and saw a note on the table. "Meet me once you've taken the medicine and your hangover subsides," the note from Ryker read. There was water and medicine on the small table beside me. I took them, and after a few minutes, I felt better and got out of bed. I was annoyed with myself for drinking too much. As I freshened up, the image of his grey eyes and handsome face was all I could think of. While searching for an outfit for the day, my phone chimed with a text notification. I opened it to find a message: "My penthouse looks like it's been hit by a storm." An attached photo showed the once beautiful penthouse in a state of disarray. I gasped upon seeing claw marks on the floors and walls and evidence of magic damage. I wondered how on earth Elton had escaped. Had he jumped from the building? "So sorry, it looks terrible. I'll help with the repair costs," I texted. "Thanks. I had to spend a lot, but no one reported any suspicious activit

Flora - POV After Alpha Bryan's speech ended, I could sense a change in Ryker. He seemed jealous and looked upset, though he did well to mask his emotions. Maybe I'm just imagining things. Why would he be jealous? We're just pretending. "Ryker," I called. "Yes, Princess?" He responded affectionately. "Can we talk to Alpha Bryan? I want to ask him about what he has that belonged to my parents," I whispered. "I'll talk to him. You stay with Alexia," Ryker said. "I don't like how Bryan keeps staring at you," he murmured. Instead of being alarmed by his possessiveness, I found my heart fluttering. "I'm coming with you. And don't worry, I don't have feelings for Alpha Bryan," I assured him. Ryker gave me a blank look before heading towards Alpha Bryan, and I followed close behind. "Alpha Bryan, we need the belongings of Flora's parents that you have. My mate is tired, and I need to take her home," Ryker stated bluntly. "Alpha Ryker, please stay longer at the party. I promise to give

Ryker – POV I gently draped a blanket over Flora as she slept. After tonight's incident, it took a while to calm her down. She had been sobbing, but eventually, she found sleep. Her slow, rhythmic breathing and serene face seemed both graceful and captivating. I rose from the chair, chastising myself for intently staring at her. I stopped as My inner wolf Knight yearned to stay close and mark her, but I didn't want to pressure Flora. Glancing at her wrist, I noticed a mark that appeared to be a seal. She had mentioned it was a tattoo, but I had my doubts. Gently caressing her cheek, I reflected on how much Cassie's bullying had affected her. Flora often questioned her worth, and even when I assured her of her value, she feared I might abandon her. She doesn't grasp just how much she means to me. During the six months Flora was away, I recognized my feelings for her. Despite the pain she had experienced, her heart remained pure. Heading into another room, I poured myself a drink to c

Flora - POV "You seem surprised, Ryker. Were you expecting me to plead for mercy for my wife's actions?" Bryan said calmly. However, I sensed something was off. Maybe he was planning something against Ryker or perhaps against me. I needed clarification. "It's good to see you're not as predictable as I thought. I would've executed Cassie right before you," Ryker responded with chilling indifference. "In that case, I'll wait for the call regarding her execution," Bryan said as he stood up. "You'll need to sign this document," Ryker handed the paper to him. "What's this document about?" Alpha Bryan inquired. "It's an agreement confirming that you allow the Black Mist pack to decide Cassie's punishment and that you won't object to the decision," Ryker clarified. Bryan hesitated for a brief moment. "Do you trust my word?" Bryan asked, offering a polite smile. "No, I don't trust anyone. As you know, I operate within the bounds of Wolf laws. I don't engage in anything illegal," Ryker