Chapter 256 A King's Silence

Chapter 256 A King's Silence

It has been a full week since the king came back from the dead.

Seven long days since he lost his wolf inside him, keeping it locked away like a dirty secret.

He pulled himself far away from Felda and from his own daughter as well.

Heavy shame hung over his chest, making it hard to look his young girl in the eye, even though Tovanna just wanted to sit close to him and learn the ways of her father.

Felda was left in the dark, her heart aching day and night.

The heavy oak doors of his royal chamber stayed shut tight against her. She spent her nights staring at the ceiling, wondering what she had done wrong.

Did she say the wrong word? Did he regret bringing her back to life? Or was it because of the whispers in the courtyard reminding him that she was a slave, and a king could never truly make a slave his true queen?

"Mother,"

A soft, familiar voice broke through her heavy thoughts.

Felda blinked, turning her head to see Tovanna standing beside her in the dim corridor. The young lady reached out, her small, warm hand gently touching Felda's shoulder.

"He still won't open the door?" Tovanna asked, her young eyes full of worry.

Felda swallowed hard, nodding as she tried to fight back the hot tears stinging her eyes.

Tovanna pulled her into a comforting hug, patting her back. "Don't worry, Mother. He will come around. He must still be in shock over everything. Coming back to life, fighting the spirit or witches... it is too much for him to carry all at once. He just needs time to breathe."

Felda let her daughter guide her slowly away from the heavy doors of the royal bedchamber. "But why must he shut us out like this?" Felda whispered, her voice cracking. "He didn't even say he was sorry for how he treats me."

"He is probably too proud, or too ashamed to ask, just the way he is too ashamed to talk to me," Tovanna suggested softly, her voice wise beyond her years. "Let's give him a little more space. He will find his way back to us."

Felda sighed, a long, weary breath, and nodded.

Together, mother and daughter walked back into the quiet, empty chambers.

Back in the grand study, the king sat alone under the flicker of heavy iron wall torches. His mind was a battlefield.

All week long, messenger after messenger had been sent out into the cold night, carrying his royal seals across the borders.

And the replies had started rolling back, heavy and dangerous.

Some packs threatened him outright over the Celeste case. Her pack brothers and elders demanded her immediate release, swearing they would not let her face execution for her crimes.

But the king's jaw tightened whenever he read those words.

He would never let her go.

Celeste had tried to take the life of the only woman he ever truly loved, the woman who had healed his broken spirit.

She would pay for that sin, no matter who threatened him. If the other packs wanted a bloody war over a murderer, then let them sharpen their swords. He was ready.

And finally, the message he had been waiting for arrived with a sharp knock at the heavy wood of his study door.

Beta Cain pushed the door open and stepped inside, bowing low to his king. "Your Majesty," Cain said, his voice steady. "Here is the final response from the border packs."

As Cain stepped closer to stretch out his hand with the rolled letters, the king couldn't help but notice the change in his Beta.

Cain looked lighter, completely relaxed. There was a warmth in his eyes that had not been there before he met Emora.

A sharp wave of envy twisted in the king's gut.

Cain had found peace, while the king sat in a cold room, slowly destroying his own happiness with his own hands. He wished he could have what Cain had, even though deep down, he knew his cursed life could never be that simple.

The king reached out, his thick fingers taking the letters from Cain's hand. He raised his dark eyes to look at his Beta.

"How is she doing?"

He did not have to say her name. In this room, between these two loyal men, there was only one woman who mattered.

Cain knew he meant Felda.

The Beta had been keeping a quiet, watchful eye on them just as the king had ordered from the shadows.

Cain looked back at his king, his expression softening. "She is fine, Your Majesty. But she worries about you." Cain paused for a second. The words sat heavy on the tip of his tongue. He wanted to tell the king to stop being a fool, to go to her, to let her love him through the darkness.

He wanted to tell him that forgiveness was waiting just down the hall.

But Cain swallowed the advice back down, keeping his mouth shut. He had his own fear... what if he ruined things by speaking out of turn?

The king let out a heavy breath, his chest tightening even more. "And my daughter?" he asked, his voice dropping low, thick with a father's hidden guilt.

"She is fine too," Cain answered gently.

The king nodded slowly. He looked down at the letters clutched in his fist, his heart pounding against his ribs. Anxiety crawled up his throat. He had no idea what bad news those parchments held, and he did not want to break the royal seal in front of another man.

He needed a moment to breathe alone.

To buy a second of peace, he looked up at his Beta. "And your wife?"

Cain’s heart instantly lightened at the question. He thought of the sweet young woman he had left resting in their quarters that very morning, and a soft, genuine smile broke across his face. "She is well, Your Majesty. Thank you for asking."

A small, sad ghost of a smile touched the king's lips. "I can see the happiness on your face just by looking at you, Cain. My warm regards to her."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will let her know," Cain said, standing straight as he waited for further commands.

When no other words came, the king gave a slight flick of his hand. "You can go, Cain. I will send for you if I need you."

Cain bowed his head low one more time, turning on his heel to walk out of the heavy doors.

As the wood clicked shut behind him, the Beta let out a quiet prayer in the dark hallway, hoping with all his heart that his broken king would somehow find his way back to the light, and keep the happiness he deserved for the rest of his days... just as he had found his own.