Bitter Afterglow

(Neva’s POV)

A soft rustle against the damp moss pulled me from the edges of sleep.

The first thing I registered was the deep ache between my thighs, a heavy reminder of what we had just done. My core was raw and swollen from the way he had driven into me, yet a sweet warmth hummed through my veins. My wolf was quiet, completely settled for the first time in years.

I looked up through the dim moonlight. Kaelen had his back turned to me, already pulling the zipper of his trousers shut. His shoulders were tense as he buckled his belt, moving with sharp, hurried motions. He snatched his white shirt from the ground and pulled it over his head, hiding the broad expanse of his back from my view.

A strange knot tightened in my gut at his haste, but I tried to push the unease away. We had crossed the line. We had made love on the forest floor. He was my first love, my childhood best friend, and now the bond had claimed us both.

A quiet smile touched my lips as the memories flashed behind my eyes. He had collapsed against me in exhaustion afterward, his chest rising and falling against mine before we drifted off under the trees. I thought this was the start of everything I had ever prayed for.

Yet as I watched him work the buttons of his cuffs, I realized he was not looking at me. He was rushing as if every second in this clearing burned him.

When his shirt was secured, he finally turned around. His mouth was set in a flat line, his amber eyes hard and unreadable. I was still lying on the moss, half-undressed, the silk skirt of my gown bunched around my hips and my chest left bare to the cool air. I saw his eyes drop to my skin for a split second. Hoping to soften the tension in his jaw, I smiled up at him.

Kaelen’s frown only deepened. He stepped forward and leaned down. My breath caught, expecting his fingers to brush against my cheek or trace the marks he had left on my collarbone.

Instead, his fingers caught the silk tie trapped beneath my skirt and yanked it free.

The sudden coldness of the gesture struck me like ice water.

"You should get dressed." He spoke with a rough, flat edge as he looped the fabric around his collar.

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and sat up without a word. My hands trembled as I pulled the bodice of my gown over my shoulders and smoothed the fabric down over my hips. There was a tiny rip along the hem where he had pulled at me in his frenzy, but it remained hidden in the folds.

Once I was covered, I stood on unsteady legs and reached out toward him.

Kaelen hesitated. His hand hovered in the space between us, his fingers flexing before he finally allowed my hand to slip into his. The moment his warm skin closed around mine, the tight coil of panic in my chest began to loosen.

He just needed time to process this. Hours ago, we were barely speaking, divided by distance and royal expectations. And then there was Sloane. The sudden weight of our bond had to be overwhelming for him. That had to be the reason for his silence.

We walked back toward the palace through the shadowed trees. Every step sent a dull throb through my center, forcing me to limp slightly, but Kaelen kept his eyes fixed straight ahead. He did not ask if I was hurt. He did not slow his stride. Still, he did not release my hand, and that quiet grip was the only anchor I had.

By the time we cleared the treeline and approached the manicured palace lawns, the festive atmosphere had vanished. The music that had been drifting across the gardens earlier in the evening was gone, replaced by a tense, heavy silence.

A patrol of elite warriors emerged from the perimeter and marched toward us, coming to an abrupt halt. They snapped their fists to their chests in a crisp salute.

"Your Highness." The lead guard spoke with deep respect, his eyes instantly darting down to where my fingers were locked with the prince's.

The warrior kept his face neutral, stepping aside to clear the path as Kaelen strode past.

A quiet sense of relief washed over me. He had not let go of my hand in front of his guards. He was not hiding me.

The warriors fell into formation behind us as we ascended the grand marble steps and passed through the towering double doors of the ballroom. Inside, the celebration had ground to a complete halt. Hundreds of nobles and council members were gathered in anxious clusters, their quiet chatter dying out the moment our footsteps crossed the threshold.

Kaelen still kept his fingers threaded through mine as we walked into the center of the room, right toward the royal dais.

My heart hammered against my ribs with wild anticipation. This was it. He was going to stand before the entire court and announce that the Moon Goddess had chosen us.

Before Kaelen could open his mouth, the crowd parted violently.

Sloane came running through the gap, her lavender skirts swishing around her legs. She threw her entire weight against Kaelen's chest, the impact tearing our joined hands apart.

My empty hand fell to my side, stinging from the sudden break.

"I have been looking everywhere for you!" Sloane cried out, throwing her arms around his neck before pulling back to frame his face with her manicured hands. "Thank the Goddess you are safe. I was beside myself with worry. I thought something terrible happened to you out in the dark."

Kaelen did not push her away. He stayed entirely still, leaning into the warmth of her palms while his expression relaxed.

"I'm fine, Sloane." His tone was soft, gentler than anything he had offered me in the woods.

Sloane lingered for a second longer before stepping back, her arm still brushing his sleeve as Kaelen moved forward to greet his family.

Princess Thalia stepped down from the dais first, her sharp features clouded with concern as she looked at her brother.

"Brother." Thalia sighed in relief.

Kaelen offered her a faint smile. "I am sorry for causing an alarm."

Thalia struck his arm lightly with the back of her hand, and a low chuckle rumbled in his chest before he turned toward the King and Queen.

Queen Liora descended the dais with open arms, drawing Kaelen into a tight embrace.

"You frightened everyone tonight," the Queen murmured, stepping back to smooth down the collar of his shirt. "Your father and I knew you could handle yourself, but Thalia and Sloane were frantic. Your sister nearly mobilized the entire garrison to search the grounds."

"I saw the guards outside," Kaelen answered evenly.

King Vane stepped forward, clapping a heavy, approving hand against Kaelen’s shoulder. "A future ruler must learn to inform his guard before wandering off. Do not let it happen again."

"Understood, Father."

As Kaelen bowed his head, Queen Liora looked past his shoulder. Her gaze caught mine, and her face instantly brightened with warmth.

"Neva!"

Before I could curtsey, she closed the distance and pulled me into an embrace. She squeezed me tightly, wrapping me in the sweet scent of jasmine and warm milk.

Years of isolation and bitter loneliness seemed to crack open inside my chest. The warmth of the only maternal figure I had ever known made tears prick behind my eyelids. I rested my chin against her shoulder, exhaling a breath I felt like I had been holding for years.

Suddenly, Queen Liora went rigid.

She pulled back abruptly, her brows drawing together in confusion as she looked down at me. Her nose twitched, taking in the air between us.

"Why do I smell Kaelen on you?" Her voice carried across the silent circle of royals.

My throat closed up, panic flashing through me.

"We were together." Kaelen stepped between us before I could speak, his words tumbling out too fast.

Queen Liora’s sharp eyes snapped toward her son, an eyebrow raised in skepticism.

Kaelen swallowed, a slight hesitation catching in his throat before he smoothed it over with a confident tone. "I saw Neva walking toward the eastern tree line and followed her. I laid several heavy iron traps along the border earlier today for the perimeter patrol, and I was concerned she might wander into one in the dark. I only went to ensure she returned unharmed."

The Queen looked between the two of us, her gaze lingering on my burning face. I forced my eyes toward the marble floor, terrified she would see the truth written across my features.

Around us, low murmurs of approval rose from the gathered lords and ladies, praising the prince for his vigilance and chivalry.

A foul, bitter taste flooded my mouth. He had just erased everything that happened on the moss. He had reduced the deepest surrender of my life into an act of careless trespassing.

Before the shock could fully settle into my bones, Sloane stepped up beside Kaelen. She pressed her side against his, her fingers curling possessively around his forearm. Her eyes glittered with bright triumph as she looked up into his face.

"Do it now, Kaelen," she urged, her voice carrying through the quiet room. "Tell them the good news."

My stomach dropped straight into an abyss.

Kaelen turned his head. A slow, bright smile touched his lips—a smile full of affection, directed entirely at Sloane.

He lifted his chin, his voice booming with absolute authority as it echoed off the vaulted ceiling.

"I have chosen Sloane as my mate, and future Queen of the realm!"

A deafening roar went off in my skull, and the ground gave way beneath my feet.