Chapter 30
The King Who Chose to Wait
The black wolf stood beneath the ancient pines.
Silent.
Snow settled across his dark fur without melting.
He never moved closer.
Never crossed the Ashford border.
Never challenged Kael again.
He simply watched the warm lights glowing from the estate windows.
Inside those lights...
I laughed.
It was faint.
Barely carried by the winter wind.
But Draven heard it.
His wolf lifted its head.
For the first time since meeting me, the restless beast inside him became quiet.
She laughed.
That was enough.
A pair of footsteps crunched through the snow behind him.
"Your Majesty."
Draven didn't turn.
His Beta, Rylan, stopped a respectful distance away.
"The scouts confirmed the Ashford pack has doubled the border patrols."
Draven nodded once.
