The moon hung high above the Lycan kingdom, casting a silver glow over the marble terrace outside Adrian’s chamber. The stars shimmered like scattered diamonds across the velvet sky, the air laced with the sweet scent of blooming night roses. The battle was behind them now—but its echoes still pulsed in Sam’s heart. Every scar from that fight had marked not just her body, but her soul.
She stood by the edge of the balcony, her hair tumbling down her back in loose waves, her skin glowing faintly under the moonlight. The gown she wore was soft, silken, draping over her curves like water. The breeze whispered secrets against her skin, but her mind was drawn only to the pull she felt behind her—Adrian’s presence, steady and consuming.
He watched her from the doorway, his expression unreadabl
