Third Person POV


    I chose her moment carefully.


    Lance was finishing a patrol report when she found him on the western terrace of the Silver Fang packhouse, thete afternoon sun casting long shadows across the stone. He looked tired-everyone did-but there was a steadiness to him that made her chest ache in a way she hadn''t quite learned how to manage yet.


    "Can we talk?" she asked.


    Something in her voice made him turn fully toward her at once. He was learning to read her tone better, to recognize when there was that slight strain, the tension in her voice that meant something was off. He could hear it now and it put him on edge.


    "Of course," he said. "What''s going on?"


    She took a breath, then another, bracing herself. "My parents contacted me again.” Lance''s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "About Silver Fang?"


    She nodded. "They want me to spy. On Nn. On Ellie. On the boys." Her voice wavered despite her effort to keep it steady. "They said it''s my responsibility. That Crescent River needs leverage now more than ever.


    "And you said no," Lance said, already certain.


    "Yes," I replied. "Immediately."


    ))


    Relief flickered across his face-but it was short-lived. She sounded like she was about to cry. He moved to her, stopping close enough that she could reach out, but far enough away that he wasn''t crowding her.


    "But...?"


    "They threatened to cut me off," she continued quietly. "Resources. Protection. Everything. They made it very clear that if I choose Silver Fang, I''m no longer wee at home."


    The words hung between them, heavy and raw. Lance''s heart raced with a mix of emotions, anger, sadness, and disbelief. He would never understand how a parent could treat their child like some kind ofmodity to be leveraged.


    +25 Bonus


    I was so much more than that; she deserved so much more.


    Lance stepped closer without hesitation. “You did the right thing.”


    I let out a shaky breath. "I know. I just... I needed you to hear it from me. I couldn''t live with myself if I helped hurt your family. Or Ellie. Or the boys." Her eyes lifted to his, bright with unshed tears. "I care about you too much."


    The admission cracked something open. It wasn''t those words; he knew they were both afraid of those three words. But the subtext was there.


    Lance didn''t answer right away. He reached out instead, taking her hands in his, grounding and sure. He didn''t pull, didn''t squeeze, just held on steadily.


    "I was hoping you''d say that," he admitted quietly. "Because I care about you too. More than I probably should, given everything happening." His thumb brushed gently over her knuckles. "And you''re not alone in this. Not anymore."


    I searched his face. "You mean that?"


    "I do," he said without hesitation. "I''ll make sure you''re safe. From your parents. From the council. From anyone who thinks they can pressure you into doing anything that you don''t want to do. You''re not a pawn, I. I wouldn''t let them treat you like one."


    Something inside her finally gave way. She leaned into him, forehead resting briefly against his chest as she steadied herself.


    "I was afraid you''d think I was a liability,” she murmured.


    Lance huffed softly. “You''re a liability only to people who benefit from your silence. And honestly, anyone who thought that they would be able to push you around doesn''t know the first thing against you, stubborndy."


    Sheughed weakly at that, and for the first time since her parents'' message arrived, the fear eased its grip.


    Quiet choices, she realized, were often the bravest ones. And Lance was proving day after day to be more steady and protective than anyone gave him credit for.


    I''s family wasn''t the only one desperate in light of Nn''s unprecedented withdrawal from the campaign. His decision was understood and praised by many, but some saw it as a sign of weakness.


    Those who hated Nn intended to take advantage of Silver Fang''s vulnerability.


    213


    25 Bonus


    Elder Rowan had not epted Nn''s withdrawal with grace-or reason.


    If anything, it had sharpened his resentment.


    The curse, he believed, still loomed. Nn stepping away from the crown did not erase what Rowan saw as an existential threat. Power, after all, did not vanish simply because a man refused a title.


    Nn still had widespread support and admiration across the kingdom. That kind of


    popr support could be dangerous to anyone who opposed him. It would have to


    be nipped in the bud.


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    Cede is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a ir for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cede''s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.