Chapter 26

I smirked faintly. Interesting.

The door to my room creaked open behind me and my wolf bristled as I caught the scent—familiar, sharp like smoke and steel.

A shadow figure slipped inside, their hood low over their face. They closed the door silently, their movements precise, professional.

I didn’t move from the balcony.

“Did you find it?”

The figure hesitated, then stepped further into the room.

“Not yet.”

I turned, narrowing my eyes.

“You’ve had days.”

“The Alpha King’s guards are tighter than expected,” the figure replied. Their voice was low, gravelly, distorted. A disguise.

“Your brother may be reckless, but he isn’t careless. He’s hidden the evidence well.”

I pushed off the wall, stalking closer until the firelight from the hearth caught the edges of their cloak.

“That’s not good enough. I didn’t bring you into this house to give me excuses. I brought you here to find me proof.”

They lowered their head, the God falling over completely

“I’ll find it. But you need to understand… Tristan isn’t the only one protecting his secrets, they are more dangerous people”

A bitter laugh slipped from me.

“Dangerous? I lived as a rogue for years. I’ve faced worse than a pack of dogs who think loyalty is a virtue. Find me what I need. Then no one will stop me from tearing him down.”

The figure lifted their head slightly.

“And the girl?”

Isla’s image flashed in my mind—her steady eyes, her quiet fire.

“What about her?” I asked, careful to keep my tone flat.

“She’s becoming… more visible than was expected. it will be harder to move against him without her hurting the innocent.”

I clenched my jaw. I hated that they were right, my chest tightened at the thought of her getting hurt in my quest for revenge.

“She’s not my concern,” I lied.

“Tristan is. Do your job, dig deeper.” I replied keeping my voice as cold steel.

“And the girl?”he asked

My fists clenched.

“Like I said she’s Tristan’s problem,” I said.

“Not mine.”

The lie tasted bitter on my tongue but no one was going to call me out on it. The figure inclined their head once, and then melted back into the shadows, gone as silently as they came. I stood in the middle of the room, the fire crackling low, my wolf restless under my skin.

Isla wasn’t supposed to matter. She was just a placeholder bride, a pawn in Tristan’s pathetic game.

But every day I watched her, I found myself wondering what the hell the goddess was thinking when she tied her to him instead of… I growled, shoving the thought aside.

No.

That bond wasn’t mine to claim.

I grabbed a bottle of whiskey from the shelf and poured myself a glass, staring into the flames. I’d come back here for one reason—revenge, years in exile had carved that purpose into me like a scar.

Tristan had taken everything—my future, and the life I should have lived, he'd taken away my peace and ability to sleep at night but he has moved on like nothing had ever happened.

I wouldn't allow that, I wasn't going to let him forget what happened all those years ago.

But Isla complicated things. Every time I told myself she was just another piece on the board, she proved me wrong. I tossed back the whiskey, the burn searing my throat.

I couldn’t afford distractions.

And yet, when I closed my eyes, that night it wasn’t revenge I saw anymore.

It was her.

Isla POV

The hallways in the Ridge manor smelled like roasted meat and spiced wine. My body ached from the endless running around, and I was still not done.

There were a million things that needed to be done. Every platter needed to be perfect, every goblet polished, with every little detail lined up as if the Goddess herself might walk through those double doors and pass judgment on me.

Although with the way it was right now, even the goddess would be kinder.

I leaned against the heavy oak door of my room for a moment, inhaling deeply, willing myself not to collapse. The staff had been insufferable most of the day, they did what I told them to but not without dropping subtle insults, whenever they could. A few of them respected me but the rest had set out to make my life miserable and they wer succeeding. But, I had pulled it together and the feast would be ready on time, and no one could say I had failed.

The latch on the door clicked behind me and I straightened instantly, my heart giving an irritating little leap when Tristan stepped into the room.

He didn’t knock. He never knocked, but then again this was his room so I guess that didn't count. He filled the doorway with that easy authority of his, his dark eyes sweeping over the mess of files and papers from the planning, the half-finished gown draped across the chair, from.my dress fitting hours ago.

He looked me over and I rubbed at the faint trace of flour on my wrist from checking the bread earlier.

“I heard,” he said, his voice flat, as he stepped into the room

“that you’ve been overseeing the preparations for the feast.” I folded my arms.

“Your aunt decided I should, and unless you wanted the scandal of your so-called Luna refusing, I didn’t exactly have a choice.”

He arched a brow.

“So you agreed.”

“I did or did you find Viviana” I muttered with a huff. He frowned

“ That's not what I meant and I huffed

“I doubt anyone here will thank me for it, but yes—the feast will happen. Unless the kitchen staff suddenly burns down the east wing.”

His mouth curved, into something that almost resembled a smile.

“You almost sound proud of yourself.”

I tilted my head staring up at him

“Maybe I am. You expected me to fail, didn’t you?” I said after a beat of silence.

He didn’t deny it and that silence was answer enough. I sighed and turned away, fiddling with the ribbon on the gown.

“Look, I don’t need your praise. What I do need is for you to show up on time tonight. If you’re late, your aunt will flay me alive in front of the elders. And as amusing as that might be for you, I’d rather keep my skin intact.”

Tristan’s gaze sharpened, but his tone stayed maddeningly even.

“You think I’d enjoy watching that?” I met his eyes.