Page 44 of The Wolf

I blink repeatedly, trying to wrap my head around the idea. “Satan’s what?”

Her smile widens mischievously. “Yeah, the Winter Solstice, or rather the rebirth of the sun god. That’s when it all started in ancient times.”

“Huh. Don’t tell me you celebrate Easter too?”

“Well,wedon’t because of who it’s for. But it’s also a pagan holiday.”

“You have to tell me now.” I raise my brows, waiting.

“It used to be one of the biggest festivals in Babylon held around spring equinox, celebrating a renewal of life with many fertility rituals to worship goddess Ishtar… you may know her better as Lilith.” She leans in, as if sharing a little secret. “And trust me, those rituals weren’t exactly family-friendly like egg hunting.”

I suck in my breath. “Are we talking, orgies and stuff?”

“Oh, yeah, she’s a total freak.”

I fall quiet, digesting new information. It’s a bit strange to hear about it recontextualized like that. But I suppose, in a world like this, nothing’s shocking.

Penny watches me intently in silence. After a moment, her voice softens when she changes the subject. “You know, I’ve never seen my brother this happy.”

I look at her, surprised. “Alex?”

She nods, a tender smile tugging at her lips. “Yes. He’s never been so… alive, I guess. Not like this.”

Her words hit me unexpectedly, and I feel my chest tighten. I glance over at Alex, his eyes already locked on me, even though he’s currently mid-conversation with Farah. And somehow, even across the distance, I can feel him. There’s a deep comfort inthe way he looks at me, a quiet assurance that speaks more than words ever could.

“Alexander, unlike Edwin, spent most of the time outside the Veil during his human life. I wasn’t even born then yet, but I’ve heard so much from our parents. Apparently, my big brother wasn’t always this alpha wolf… or whatever. Can you believe that?” She chuckles softly. “He even finished a degree. If I remember correctly, it was in natural philosophy, though he never talks about it. Cambridge University in England, I think?”

“Really?” I raise an eyebrow. “Alex, studying at Cambridge?”

“He had a mind that couldn’t be contained and was trying to understand the world, to figure out where he fit into it. For a while, he did what many of us do—he blended in. But there’s no room for us in the world of humans. Werewolves in particular.”

I hadn’t heard much about his life before he first shifted. The thought of Alex as a young man, living amongst humans, studying at a university—it’s such a contrast to the King I know now. It’s a side of him I never really imagined, but it explains so much. I’ve seen glimpses of that deep, thoughtful, more vulnerable part of him that isn’t just the cold leader and fierce protector, even if he tries to hide it behind his strength. And, maybe it’s that balance between the two that draws me in. I love him for it. All of it.

Penny’s voice breaks through my racing thoughts. “I think it’s part of what made him so smitten with you. You make him feel… like he’s not just this beast. You help him remember who he was. Before. It’s so easy for us to lose our humanity. But you keep him tethered to that part of him he buried down so deeply.”

I glance over at Alex, my heart swelling in a way that makes it hard to breathe. I understand her words on a much deeper level than I expected. “I can see that.” I smile without thinking, my eyes burn with unshed tears. “I can tell.”

A sharp voice cuts into our conversation from behind. “I hope you’re not getting all sappy about your brother, Pen. It’s kind of embarrassing.” Katia’s tone is as sarcastic as ever, though her eyes gleam with amusement as she approaches, looking simply elegant in the flickering light from the bonfire.

Penny shoots her a side-eye. “You’re such ajoyto be around,” she says dryly.

“Someone has to be,” Katia responds with a wry smile, sitting on the opposite side of me. “Penny’s always a sucker for a good love story,” she says, voice dripping with teasing affection. “But, really, are we sure Alexander isthathappy? I’ve seen himscowlbefore, you know.”

We all laugh while Alex glares at us, folding his arms over his chest, annoyed, still deep in discussion with Farah.

Katia flicks a strand of chocolate hair over her shoulder as she looks at me. “I’ll admit, he’ssointo you. I can’t remember the last time I saw him this… distracted. He’s usually so damn serious, but you’ve got himwrappedaround your finger.”

I shrug, trying to keep it light. “I guess he’s alittlesoft on me.”

“A little? That’s an understatement,” she snarks. “It’s honestly unbecoming of him.”

“Which is a good thing,” Penny quickly adds.

“Sure. I didn’t think Julia would survive the other night, and yet, you’re still here. He must be doing something right.”

I chuckle nervously, a bit taken off guard by how direct she is.

Yet, she keeps at it. “But can we agree it wasn’t your brightest moment to go into that dungeon?”

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