Chapter 120

You never truly realize how much you might miss someone until you're far away from them. Freya and I had grown close, our friendship forming naturally over time. At that moment, I wished I could hug her. Even though the distance made that impossible, just hearing her voice brought a sense of comfort and warmth. I found myself smiling at the phone, feeling a little less alone in this unfamiliar place that was now my home.

"Do you have any idea how unbearable today was?" she whined, making it clear she was blaming her terrible day entirely on me.

I chuckled. "I know you'll tell me, whether I want to hear it or not."

"Damn right I will!" she retorted, letting out an adorable roar that made me grin even wider. "The entire corridor was buzzing with gossip about you leaving. It was so loud it woke me up! Everyone's saying you broke the blood bond to run off with the Alpha from the Blue Moon Pack. Do you have any idea how devastated I was hearing that?"

"Freya, it’s not like I planned for this to happen... I just felt so heartbroken that staying would have suffocated me." My throat tightened at the memory of last night’s emotions.

"Thalassa..." she sighed, her voice laced with sympathy. "I heard about the way that bitchy queen and King Hadrian acted at the party. But I still think it was all part of the King’s plan. I know he cares about you."

"Freya, stop," I cut her off, my voice sharp. "Don’t you think I know that? He even told me he’d play her, but it’s different hearing it and actually seeing it unfold in front of my eyes. He didn’t even glance at me that night, yet the way he looked at Selene... it made me question everything. I don’t know which of us he truly deceived."

"The King loves you."

"How do you know that, Freya?" I whispered, pain lacing my words. "Even I couldn’t tell the difference between the way he looked at her and the way he looked at me when he confessed his feelings. And now, I can't help but wonder if he ever meant them at all." My throat clenched tighter, and this time, the ache curled into my stomach. I forced a breath before speaking again. "Maybe I should pretend it was nothing, but seeing them together hurt more than I thought possible. Maybe Hadrian expected me to be stronger, but I’m not. I needed him, and instead of holding me up, he crushed me. Maybe I’m shallow or petty, but is it really wrong to want the man you love to be yours alone?"

"Fine," Freya conceded. "As a man, he messed up big time. But as a King... maybe he did what he had to? I know it sounds like a weak excuse for kissing that bitch in front of you, but I still believe you two belong together." I could hear the soft smile in her voice, meant to comfort me.

I sighed heavily. "It’s too late, Freya. I broke the blood bond and erased Hadrian’s feelings for me."

It hurt to think that his love might have been nothing more than a side effect of our bond. I was certain of my feelings, but what about his? He had never expressed them clearly—only twice, and both times felt like desperate attempts to stop me from leaving. Once, right after he married Selene, and the second, when I was already packed and ready to go. It felt like his "I love you" was just another chain to keep me tied to him, his favorite blood bag.

"I still think King Hadrian has real feelings for you," Freya murmured thoughtfully, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts. "When I heard you'd left, I ran to your room to see for myself. I found the King sitting on your bed, his hand gripping your sheets like he was trying to hold onto what was left of you. When I walked in, I gasped, expecting him to be furious, but he just looked at me with empty eyes and handed me your letter. He hadn’t even read it."

That didn't sound like the Hadrian I knew. My chest ached at the image Freya painted, but I couldn’t bring myself to believe it fully. I didn’t regret leaving, but I wasn’t sure I could completely erase him from my heart.

"Honestly, I was afraid you wouldn’t get the package I sent," I chuckled, eager to shift the conversation.

"Imagine my shock when General Larkspur walked up to me!" Freya exclaimed. "He was so intimidating I nearly peed myself, thinking he’d rip my throat out!"

I burst out laughing, already picturing the scene. "Sorry about that. I took a big risk making Gareth my messenger, but I figured it would be safer that way. I wrote him a letter and tucked it inside the package, hoping he'd do me this favor."

"Well, let me tell you, he was NOT happy about it," Freya snorted. "But... he seemed relieved to hear from you."

"Relieved? How?" I asked, my laughter fading.

"He told me to keep the phone safe and to tell you to take care of yourself. And the weirdest part? He was smiling. I’ve never seen him smile before!" she cringed audibly.

I smiled to myself. At least Gareth wasn’t angry with me for breaking the bond and leaving the palace. The last thing I wanted was him as an enemy.

Freya and I promised to stay in touch, calling regularly. She demanded updates, especially about Kenzo. When our call ended, I exhaled deeply, feeling a little lighter, as if shedding a weight from my chest.

Afterward, I tried calling Varen. He should have received his phone before Freya, but he didn't answer. Anxiety crept in. Was he angry with me for leaving? I'd promised to protect him, and now he was more vulnerable than ever. Selene surely suspected our connection. In my letter to Gareth, I'd asked him to ensure Varen’s safety, but was it enough?

"He’s not answering," I whispered to myself after trying again.

Maybe he didn’t want to talk to me. And honestly, I wouldn’t blame him. I acted selfishly, and all I could do now was hope for forgiveness.

Needing a distraction, I decided to test out the luxurious bathtub. The hot water and bubbles melted away my tension. After fifteen minutes of soaking, I felt better—just in time to prepare for whatever intense training Kenzo had planned for tomorrow.

As I dried off, my phone screen lit up. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Varen's message.

"I'm decrypting the last messages tonight. I'll send everything by email once I'm done. I'll call you tomorrow. Sweet dreams, Thalassa."