Page 72 of The Alpha's Fallen Spell
“Yes,” I answer without hesitation. “And I would have searched even longer, if I had to.”
There’s a change in her expression—not a softening exactly, but a crack in the armor she wears so carefully. “Why?”
I offer her a small, sad smile. “You know why.”
I leave Fiona’s apartment with a strange mix of hope and dread churning in my stomach. The early morning air is crisp against my face as I step out onto the street, the first rays of dawn just beginning to break over the horizon. The fact that she didn’t immediately reject my offer to help protect her is a positive step, at least. A small victory in what promises to be a long campaign to regain her trust.
I make my way to the hotel room I’ve rented a few blocks from Fiona’s café. It’s nothing special—a bed, a bathroom, a desk by the window—but it’s close enough that I can be at her side within minutes if needed.
Once inside, I activate the secure satellite link that connects directly to the palace. Griffin needs to know what’s happening. I’ve checked in sporadically during my search for Fiona, but now that I’ve found her—now that I know she’s being watched by this new organization—my brother deserves a full update.
The screen comes to life, and after a brief delay, Griffin’s face appears. He looks tired, the weight of kingship etching lines around his eyes that weren’t there when I left.
“Erik,” he says, relief evident in his voice. “It’s been weeks since your last check-in. I was starting to worry.”
“I found her,” I say without preamble.
Griffin doesn’t look surprised. He simply nods, as if he’s been expecting this news. “I had faith you would eventually. How is she?” he asks, his voice softening with genuine concern.
“Alive,” I say. “Thriving, even. She owns a café, has employees who depend on her. She has built a life here, Griffin. A good one.”
“And the suppressant? Is she still taking it?”
I nod. “Yes. But I think it’s starting to fail. There are moments when I catch her reacting with more than human senses, tracking movements too quickly, noticing scents too subtle for a human to detect.”
Griffin frowns, leaning closer to the screen. “That shouldn’t be possible. Maya designed the treatment to be stable and long-lasting.”
“Maya didn’t account for me finding her,” I point out. “For what my presence might do to the bond, to her wolf.”
My brother considers this, his expression thoughtful. “What will you do now?”
It’s the question I’ve been asking myself since I walked out of Fiona’s apartment. “I want to be with her,” I admit. “But she has rejected me. Made it clear she doesn’t want what I’m offering.”
Griffin’s gaze sharpens. “You’re not giving up.”
It’s not a question, but I answer anyway. “No. But there’s more going on here than just my feelings for her. The new organization of artificial shifters—they’ve zeroed in on her. She’s in danger.”
I explain about Michael, about the gun he tried to give Fiona, about the veiled threats and the implication that they’ve been watching her for months.
Griffin’s expression darkens with each word. “Bring her back to the palace,” he says when I finish. “We can protect her here.”
“No.” The word comes out forcefully. “She loves her life here, Griffin. If you saw her now—how strong she’s become, how fiercely independent—you wouldn’t want to take it all from her, either.”
“What are you proposing?” he asks, skepticism clear in his tone.
“I stay here and guard her,” I say simply. “Install better security for her café and apartment. Keep an eye on anyone suspicious who might be watching her. Give her the protection she needs without disrupting the life she’s created.”
Griffin stares at me through the screen, clearly taken aback. “For how long, Erik? A week? A month? The rest of your life?”
I have no answer to that. I haven’t thought that far ahead, haven’t allowed myself to consider what it might mean to abandon my post indefinitely.
Instead, I ask the question that’s been burning inside me since I made the decision to find Fiona. “I’ve made so many sacrifices for the kingdom,” I say quietly. “Why can’t I have something I want for once?”
The words hang between us, heavy with years of unspoken burden and duty. Griffin is silent for a long moment, his expression morphing from surprise to understanding and, finally, to resignation.
“I have never fathomed ruling the Human Wolf Kingdom without you by my side,” he tells me. “Father always told us to stick together, to trust no one but each other.”
I wait, sensing there’s more.
