Zane
It’s evening when I realize I don’t know where she is.
On its own, that wouldn’t be a problem. Elariana isn’t a child, not a prisoner, not a shadow. She’s used to being alone, to walking, to breathing. And yet, when I move through the house, check her room, glance toward the training hall, the great hall—and don’t find her anywhere—something tightens in my chest that can’t be explained away as simple concern.
“Has anyone seen Elariana?” I ask one of the guards.
He answers immediately.
“Yes, Alpha. She’s in the back garden. By the flowers. She’s not in danger— I mean, she’s alone, but… calm.”
The word calm matters more than anything else right now.
I don’t wait. I head for the garden.
The back garden has always been quieter. It wasn’t built for show, more like a refuge. A low s
