Lennox''s POV


    I knew Olivia felt it.


    I could see it in the way her eyes kept drifting toward me during the meeting. She tried to focus on the elders speaking. She tried to listen to the reports and disputes brought before her. But every few minutes, her gaze returned to the corner where I stood.


    To me.


    She felt it.


    And that scared me.


    Olivia was smart. Too smart. She always noticed things others missed. I just hoped—Moon Goddess help me—that she wouldn''t connect the dots yet. Not now.


    Throughout the meeting, I watched her closely.


    She listened carefully. She asked the right questions. She gave calm, firm answers.


    Even with grief sitting heavy on her shoulders, she did not let it control her.


    I admired her more than I ever had.


    Despite my death. Despite losing me. Despite the pain eating her alive from the inside out…


    She was still standing. Still leading. Still trying to protect everyone.


    Including my brothers.


    It made my chest ache.


    When the meeting finally ended, Olivia stood up first. Her movements were controlled, but I could see how tired she was. The elders bowed as she walked past them, murmuring respectful words.


    She didn''t respond.


    She walked straight toward the exit.


    I followed behind her, keeping my distance just like I was trained to do. Just like a guard should.


    Her steps echoed softly in the hall.


    Halfway down the corridor, she slowed.


    Not stopped. Just slowed.


    Like she was thinking.


    Like she was fighting something inside her.


    I stayed silent.


    Then, without turning around, she spoke.


    "Stop following so close."


    Her voice was calm but tight.


    I slowed immediately, increasing the distance between us. "Yes, Luna."


    She nodded slightly and continued walking.


    But her shoulders were tense.


    We reached a quiet stretch of hallway. Sunlight poured in through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the floor. The mansion felt too quiet again. Too empty.


    She stopped suddenly.


    I stopped too, instantly alert.


    She turned halfway toward me, not fully facing me.


    "For the rest of the day," she said, "you keep your distance. I don''t need you hovering."


    My jaw tightened, but I kept my tone respectful. "As you wish."


    She hesitated.


    Just for a second.


    Then she added, softer, "And… don''t speak unless I speak to you."


    That hurt more than it should have.


    "Yes, Luna," I said quietly.


    She turned away and continued walking.


    I followed—farther back now—watching her back, her posture, the way grief weighed on her even when she tried to hide it.


    Her lips still tingled from earlier.


    I knew it.


    Because mine did too.


    And that terrified me.


    This was not part of the n.


    I was supposed to be invisible. A shadow. A guard.


    Not this.


    I clenched my fists at my sides as we walked.


    You cannot slip, Lennox. Not now. It''s too early.


    We reached the end of the corridor near the stairs that led to the inner wing of the mansion. Olivia slowed again, then finally stopped.


    "You should rest," she said without looking at me. "I don''t need you following me everywhere."


    I frowned slightly. "Luna, my duty—"


    She cut me off.


    "I''m going somewhere," she said. Her voice was firm now. Authoritative. "Alone."


    Before I could say another word, the air around her shimmered.


    And she was gone.


    Just like that.


    Teleportation.


    I stood there, staring at the empty space where she had been, my chest tight.


    I let out a slow breath and rubbed my jaw.


    Great.


    I was supposed to guard her, and she vanished before I could even argue.


    I looked around the quiet hallway. No elders. No servants. Just the echo of my own breathing.


    "Well done, Kaine," I muttered under my breath.


    With nothing else to do, I decided to move around the mansion. Carefully. Quietly. I needed to learn the ce again, not as its Alpha, but as a stranger.


    I walked through the lower halls, memorizing routes, exits, blind spots. Old habits died hard.


    That was when I heard voices.


    I turned a corner and saw Louis standing near one of the pirs, speaking sharply to a guard. The guard nodded quickly, looking nervous.


    Then Louis saw me.


    His eyes narrowed instantly.


    "Leave," he told the guard.


    The man bowed and hurried away.


    Louis''s gaze stayed locked on me as he motioned with his head. "You. Come here."


    For a second, my body reacted on instinct.


    I wanted to disobey.


    But I stopped myself.


    I walked over and bowed slightly. "Alpha."


    The word tasted strange in my mouth.


    Louis studied me closely, his eyes sharp and suspicious. Standing this close to him again felt wrong. Too risky. I didn''t want any of them to get a clue.


    "You''re the new guard," he said. "Kaine."


    "Yes, Alpha."


    "You were assigned to the Luna," he continued. "So tell me—where is she?"


    My jaw tightened. "She left. She said she needed space."


    His eyes shed.


    "You let her leave alone?" he snapped.


    "I tried to speak," I said carefully. "She teleported before I could stop her."


    Louis took a step closer, his voice rising. "Then what good are you?"


    I stiffened.


    "With respect, Alpha," I replied, keeping my tone controlled, "I cannot stop the Luna from teleporting."


    "That sounds like an excuse," he shot back.


    Heat rose in my chest.


    "I am doing my duty," I said. "She ordered me to stay back."


    Louisughed sharply. "Duty? You think you understand duty?"


    He stepped even closer now, invading my space.


    "My brother is dead," he said, his voice shaking with anger. "My Luna is breaking. And they assign a wolfless stranger to guard her?"


    I understood he wasn''t in a good mood.


    "I didn''t ask for this assignment," I said quietly.


    That seemed to push him over the edge.


    "You don''t see a need for yourself either?" he snapped. "Because I don''t see a need for you at all."


    I frowned. "Do you have a problem with me, Alpha?"


    The moment the words left my mouth, I knew I had crossed into dangerous ground.


    Louis''s face changed.


    His hand shot out before I could react.


    He grabbed my cor and mmed me back hard against the stone pir. The impact knocked the breath out of me, but I didn''t move. I didn''t fight back. I couldn''t.


    Warriors nearby froze.


    A few took hesitant steps forward, then stopped when Louis snarled, "STAY BACK."


    He scoffed in anger. "Do I have a fucking problem with you? Yes," he snapped, his voice breaking through clenched teeth. "Yes, I do."