The room broke out into noise. Some fighting in agreement to their Kings suggestions. Other arguing that Estelle couldn’t be trusted any more than Alpha Byron. Eventually, after what felt like hours of heated debate, it was decided in favour of Estelle being offered as a suitable candidate. I found myself surprised at the sudden change in situation. I should have had more faith in Alex, knowing that he wouldn’t just let Lucille be sold to the highest bidder. But more surprising, I found myself feeling slightly sad for Estelle. She and I had never been friends. In fact, we were enemies in many ways, but that didn’t mean that I wished this fate upon her. Yet it seemed to be in the interested of everyone. Not only did Alex fulfil his saviours wishes of helping his daughter find a respectable match. And at that it was, despite the young Alpha’s reputation of being akin to his father, he was a well suited noble that Estelle’s family would deem suitable for their daughter.

  Once the sun had fully risen in the sky, Castle Black was a hive of activity, and there was barely enough room to move. Something which wouldn’t even rectify after the evacuees had left this evening. Every hall was blocked with the half-naked forms of men drinking and eating their fill, the Christmas decorations now hanging drab around them. Even outside the castle, the streets were just as full. Bonfires glowing on every street corner to keep the people warm. Some chose to remain in their wolf forms in order to stave off the winter cold. Although the snow no longer rained down, the temperature remained below freezing, meaning that all the snow that was already laid piled had now frozen and refused to go anywhere. Walking through the streets had treacherous with black ice, and icicles which threatened to spear any unsuspecting soul who walked into them. Despite the gloomy weather and interrupted festivities, the mood around the castle

As promised, Alexander made love to me once more. Unlike our previous steamy encounters, he took his time, relishing in the new connection between us. Along with the mind-linking that our now completed bond had given us, we were also more attuned to each other on an emotional level. It was not just seeing the depth of his feeling in his body language and eyes anymore; I could literally feel him. And right now, the only feeling that I could feel, the one that seemed to overpower anything else that might be lingering there, was the burning love he felt for me. Mixed in with my own happiness, it was consuming. We had managed to wrap ourselves in a little bubble, and to be honest, one I didn’t want to emerge from. Especially when I knew what was waiting at the end of it. When the clock did strike eight, I didnt want to leave. And suddenly realisation came crashing down on me. No matter how happy I was in the moment before, the time had come where I would have to

Getting into the carriage and allowing the groom to pull away was the hardest thing that I have ever had to do. Leaving the future was out of my control and had happened before I even knew what was going on. This time, I was leaving willingly. And although it wasn’t as final as the first time, it still broke my heart. I held onto Alexanders bulky form until the very last moment, desperately trying to soak every minute of his woody scent and warmth in that I could. The rest of my travel companions already seated and waiting patiently. “I don’t know if I can do this Alex.” I whimper into his chest truthfully. “You can Rosalie, because you must. Both of us must do this. I can’t keep you safe while I’m dealing with my uncle. I need you away so that I don’t have to worry about you.” He repeated the words that I he had told me over and over. I understood the reasoning, I really did. And I knew I sounded like a petulant child begging. But I couldn’t help it.

Alexander   Watching Rosalie’s carriage disappear from sight was harder than I had ever thought it would be. How Arthur did this which such regularity was beyond me. If it wasn’t for the fact that I knew having her in the castle whilst I mounted an attack left her vulnerable and in danger, I would not have allowed her to leave. And I know that once this was all over, if I survived, she would never be allowed to leave myside ever again. It took everything in me to stop Silas from running after her and dragging her back. Her grief-stricken face haunted my vision, etched into the back of my eye lids every time I closed my eyes, and haunted my dreams like a plague. I hated seeing her so upset. Leaving was as hard for her as it was for me to watch her go. But I couldn’t dwell on it. If I wanted to bring Rosalie back to me, then I had to deal with my uncle swiftly and with a clear head. Setting the image of Rosalie to