Chapter 171

Dorian‘s pov.

The warm glow of lanterns flickered through the windows of the tavern as I pushed open the door. For once, I had arrived before Cassian. That alone was strange enough to make me frown. Usually, he was already seated, boots up on the table, drink in hand, waving like a lunatic. Not tonight.

I made my way to the bar and ordered a tall mug of ale. The tavern buzzed with laughter and music. Familiar faces filled the room—pack warriors, hunters, councilmen. Many of them raised their glasses or nodded respectfully as they noticed me. Some even stood briefly to bow their heads. I acknowledged each gesture with a subtle nod. They didn’t owe me that, but I appreciated it.

With each sip of the bitter drink, I felt both the weight and pride of responsibility settle on my shoulders. These were my people. My kingdom. Their laughter, their peace—it was my duty to protect it. To lead them into a future worth living.

By the time I finished my third mug, Cassian was still nowhere to be seen. That wasn’t like him. I muttered under my breath and stood, tossing a few coins on the bar. "He better have a damn good reason," I said to myself as I stepped back outside.

The evening air was cool and refreshing, brushing against my skin like a whisper of old memories. Laughter danced in the air—children darting through the cobblestone streets, their silhouettes blurred by lanternlight. Their carefree joy echoed off the buildings as parents called them inside, voices half stern, half smiling. I paused mid-step, transfixed by the scene.

For a moment, the world stilled around me. The innocence, the freedom—it stirred something deep within. A vision took hold: Freya, radiant, standing at the threshold of our home, and children—ours—racing toward us under a twilight sky. The image was so vivid, it clenched around my chest like a fist. Gods, I wanted that. I wanted it more than war, more than power. A real life. A future. A legacy.

And yet... that future now felt like it was slipping away from my grasp, grain by grain, like sand between my fingers.

A strange warmth spread through me. I wanted this. A future. A family. Children. My children.

I wanted that with Freya.

The thought hit me like a wave. I wanted a life—not just battles, not just duty. Real life. A legacy.

But with that thought came another. Tiberius.

He was her mate too. My brother. And that brought its own weight. I had almost made peace with sharing Freya. Almost. It still stung, but knowing it was with Tiberius—someone I trusted with my life—made it bearable.

But what about heirs?

What if the first child she bore was his? Would the kingdom see that child as the rightful heir to the throne? And what if the child was a hunter, not a wolf? Would he still be accepted?

I sighed and rubbed my temples. "What the hell am I thinking?" I muttered. "As long as our children are loved, that’s what matters. We are one family. And love will bind us."

Still, the thoughts lingered like fog in the corners of my mind. Damn ale. Always got me philosophical.

I shook it off and walked toward Freya’s quarters.

I knocked softly. No answer.

I waited, then knocked again, speaking lowly. "I know, sweetheart, I said I wouldn’t disturb you. But it’s a beautiful night... maybe you'd like a walk? Unless you’re asleep, or tired, or moody, or..."

I sighed. "You’re probably asleep already."

Then I heard it.

A sound. A faint groan. My body tensed.

"Freya?" My voice sharpened.

Before I could move, the door clicked and creaked open. Cassian stepped out, hand on his head, looking like he'd just woken from a dream.

"You know," he muttered with a crooked grin, "you can be quite the romantic."

My eyes narrowed. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Cassian hesitated. "That's... a bit of a problem."

I pushed past him into the room. "Where is she? Where's Freya?"

"She’s gone," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "With Arius."

Something inside me snapped. I felt it surge forward—the beast under my skin. My nails lengthened involuntarily. My voice, when it came, was no longer fully my own. It carried the edge of my wolf.

"Tell me everything. Now."

Cassian told me what he saw. How he ended up unconscious.

I clenched my fists, fury pulsing through my veins. "I trusted her. I held back my instincts, gave her the freedom she asked for, let her move at her own rhythm... and she vanished? With Arius? The one man I should never have allowed near her?"

The words burned my tongue as they left my mouth, and yet the betrayal burned hotter still. The idea that she would choose to leave, to escape with him, tore something jagged inside me. She knew what he was. What he represented. And yet she chose him in the night like a thief, stealing not just away—but from me. From us.

Cassian stepped forward, trying to calm me. "Dorian, maybe it’s not what it looks like. Give her the benefit of the doubt. It's a mistake."

I turned to him, eyes glowing red. "Oh, it’s exactly what it looks like. A mistake. HER mistake."

And I stormed out into the night.

There would be no more waiting. Not this time.