Orion led me down the hall, away from the tension of Zev’s room and Alpha Damian’s looming presence. The deeper we went into the quieter parts of the palace, the more I felt the tightness in my chest ease, though my mind was still racing with a thousand questions.
When we reached a small alcove near the gardens, Orion stopped, turning to face me. His expression was softer than Zev’s ever was—there was something more genuine about him, more approachable. For a moment, the chaos of the day felt distant.
“What’s on your mind?” I asked, breaking the silence. I didn’t know if I could handle more surprises today, but Orion had always seemed… different. Less cruel, maybe even kinder than his brothers.
He hesitated, as if trying to find the right words. “I’ve been watching you with Zev,” he fin
