Violet

After days of studying and being hassled by Voya’s elders, the castle walls had started to feel like they were closing in on me.

It wasn’t the cold or even the lingering ache in my body. It was the routine. Wake up, eat, heal, study documents, sleep. Briefly walk the same space outside. The same corridors, the same rooms, the same view of frost-covered hills from the same window.

I needed air, and at least a full day or two outside.

At that moment, it suddenly occurred to me how I had never exactly seen Frostheim’s capital.

When I mentioned wanting to visit the capital, I had expected to go with one of Voya’s attendants. Maybe alone.

Not once did I think Kael and Rowan would actually want to come with me. Which was baffling considering they hadn’t even been in the castle that morning.

[ - ]

While it was a lot more bearable now, having them in the same space still felt a bit nerve-wracking.

I trodded through the snow, my focus on Estra, the daughter of one of Voya’s betas. I appreciated that she was chatty, and her small talk about the capital made it easier to ignore the other two following right behind us.

Estra revealed a toothy grin. "Here we are."

We stopped at the edge of a slope that led downwards, revealing the capital sprawling before us.

It was a strange sight. There were hardly any tall structures, but like in the castle, Estra had explained that most buildings always had underground layers.

Strangely enough, it reminded me of the underground city.

The buildings here were built low and compact against the terrain. The structures hugged the earth, their thick walls and heavy doors designed to hold warmth inside and keep the brutal winters out. Stone and dark rocks dominated the space with occasional flashes of colour.

It all looked simple, but so beautiful at the same time.

The frost was receding with the season’s turn, but patches and clumps of ice still clung to shadowed corners and the edges of rooftops. The air was crisp and sharp in my lungs, carrying other soft scents.

Rowan’s head turned constantly as we walked. His eyes swept across the sparsely crowded streets with such curious intensity that it surprised me.

"This is beautiful, honestly. How deep do the underground levels go?" Rowan asked.

Estra glanced back at him. "Depends on the section of the capital. Some buildings have three levels below ground. The older sections go deeper."

Rowan absorbed this with visible fascination.

Kael continued to walk, not saying anything, but his presence was constant. That same tactical awareness was still in his gaze. And every so often, when the streets narrowed or a group of wolves passed too close, his hand would find the small of my back.

It was a brief, steadying pressure that disappeared the moment the path cleared.

And it would always catch me off guard each time.

Rowan noticed it.

He didn’t comment on it. But his jaw would tighten, and his next question to Estra would come just a little louder, a little more animated, pulling attention back toward himself.

The next group we went through, I increased my pace, and Estra rushed up to meet me.

The capital didn’t seem to have its market areas. There were just shopping centers in nearly every street and it was such a convenient arrangement. Their displays arranged beneath awnings that kept the lingering frost off the goods. The streets while being a bit crowded, were far quieter than that of any of the other capitals I had been too.

The vendors were less aggressive in their pitches, some were even dozing off.

We wandered for another hour before Estra directed us to a tea house for us to relax. The building was tucked into a hillside, half of it underground, with heavy wooden doors and windows of thick frosted glass.

The sudden warmth inside hit me immediately. A large stone hearth dominated one wall, the fire within it crackling steadily. The ceiling was low and dark-beamed, and the tables were arranged in small alcoves carved into the walls, offering privacy without complete isolation.

It smelled of woodsmoke and dried herbs and the faintly sweet aroma of whatever tea was brewing behind the two counters.

And the lamps were so bright.

We settled into one of the larger alcoves, the cushioned benches offering more heating comfortable. Estra excused herself to order something for us, and I was left with my two mates.

"I need to use the washroom," I said, rising from my seat without looking at them.

I could sense Rowan’s eyes follow be briefly.

With the help of an attendant, I found the washroom down the narrowest corridor I had ever seen.

The water was cold, but I splashed it on my face anyway, pressing my damp fingers against my closed eyelids.

Just one week.

The council was in one week. The summons had been sent long ago and the Supreme Alphas along with their delegations would soon be here. Especially Kael’s.

I would soon stand before them all and demand they acknowledge what had been done to my people.

My stomach tightened, but beneath the anxiety was a steadiness that hadn’t been there before.

I dried my face and made my way back.

I stopped at the corner before the main serving hall.

To my surprise, Kael and Rowan were talking.

Kael was leaning forward, his elbows on the table, his voice low and measured. Rowan sat across from him, one arm draped along the back of the bench, his posture relaxed but his attention fully engaged.

My chest ached watching them.

Not because of the impossible choice I carried. But because I cared about both of them, genuinely and deeply, and in a different world, a kinder world, no one would have to be hurt by what came next.

Another dilemma I felt was when would a good time come for me to let them know?

My heart was already heavy for another reason.

I realised now, that deep down, I had already made my choice before even coming here.

Seeing them both only solidified it.