(20
Remi’s POV
The air in the palace felt heavier since the coronation. The halls were no longer a haven where I could hide from prying eyes or the weight of my own thoughts.
Today, the unease hit me full force when I saw him standing among the Royal Scholars.
“Eros?” I froze mid–step, my heart pounding in my chest. My wolf bristled, her instincts sharp and protective. “What are you doing here?”
He turned, his expression smug and composed. His dark hair fell messily over his sharp features, and he carried himself with the arrogance I had come to expect.
“Remi,” he said smoothly, as if my name were a melody on his tongue. “What a pleasant surprise.”
My jaw tightened, and I stalked toward him, keeping my voice low to avoid drawing attention. “Answer me, Eros. Why are you here? You’re supposed to be at Lotus Pack!”
He smirked, folding his arms: “The Royal Scholars were looking for someone with experience in pack dynamics and history. Naturally, I applied”
“You applied?” I repeated, narrowing my eyes. “Why? What’s your angle?”
Eros leaned in slightly, lowering his voice, though the grin on his face didn’t falter. “I think you know why, Remi. I’m here for you.”
My stomach churned, and my wolf let out a low growl in my mind. “You don’t get to say that,” I snapped. “You don’t get to show up here, in my life, and act like-*
“Like I still care?” he interrupted, his tone softening, though it only made me angrier. “Because I do, Remi. I always have
“You have a funny way of showing it,” I hissed. Memories of his betrayal, his callousness, flooded my mind. “Whatever you think you’re going to accomplish by being here, it won’t work.”
Eros tilted his head, his expression hardening just slightly. “I’m not leaving without you. Or our pup.
C
The words hit me like a slap, and I felt my breath hitch. I glanced around quickly to make sure no one was earshot, then stepped closer to him, my voice low and dangerous. “You don’t get to call them that. My pup. Not
yours.”
His jaw clenched, and for the first time, I saw the mask of confidence slip. “Remi, you can’t deny me this. I deserve to be part of their life”
“You deserve nothing.” I shot back, my voice trembling with anger. “You had your chance, Eros, and you threw it away Now you
think you can just waltz back in because you’re
Eros opened his mouth to respond, but a familiar presenceperate for an heir? It’s pathetic.”
stopped us both.
3.50 PM c
“Remi,” Laurent’s voice called out, firm but calm.
I turned to see him standing a few feet away, his expression unreadable but his eyes locked on Eros. There was a
quiet tension in the air, one that made my wolf stir uneasily.
“Laurent” I said softly, stepping back from Eros and toward him.
Laurent’s gaze flicked to me, and his eyes softened just slightly. “Is everything alright?”
I nodded, though my heart was still racing. “Just an unpleasant conversation.”
Eros scoffed, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Ah, the knight in shining armor. How predictable.”
Laurent didn’t rise to the bait, but I could feel the restrained anger radiating from him. “If you have business here, I suggest you stick to it and leave Remi alone.”
Eros smirked, his confidence returning. “Acting like her lover already? You don’t understand how deep our bond.
goes.”
“There is no bond between us anymore,” I snapped, stepping in front of Laurent. “Whatever we had, Alpha, it’s gone. Accept it and move on.”
For a moment, Eros looked at me as if I had struck him, but the emotion was gone as quickly as it appeared. He
gave me one last lingering look before turning and walking away.