As the days dragged on, I had felt the tension in the palace grow. Rumors of Evan's growing power and the threat of war loomed over the kingdom like a dark cloud. Inside my cell, I could hear the distant sounds of preparations, the clanking of weapons, and the murmur of worried voices.
While trying to braid my hair, I heard the door to my cell open, and this time it was Jayden. His face wore a mask of determination, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of something softer.
"Aliya," he said, his voice low. "I needed to see you."
I looked at him, my heart torn between affection and anger. "Why? To see how much I've suffered? To revel in your victory?"
He flinched at my words. "No. I came to apologize. I had to show strength, to prove my loyalty to the pack. But it doesn't mean I don't care ab
