The knot in my stomach twisted tighter as I hurried through the pack grounds, my mind a whirlwind of nervous thoughts. My heart raced, the image of Alpha Zane’s piercing gaze still seared into my mind. He’d seen me near the palace earlier, too close for comfort. My discussion with Douglas, hidden in the shadows, had been a risk—one I now regretted deeply.
The scene replayed in my head. His dark eyes had lingered on my hiding spot, his expression unreadable but tense. Had he overheard our conversation? Did he already know I wasn’t who I claimed to be?.
Instead of returning to the maid quarters , I decided to take advantage of my day off. I would visit Haelyn. Her home had become my sanctuary—a place where I could breathe, even if just for a little while. Perhaps I could calm my nerves the
