Dusk settled slowly over the castle.

The last traces of sunlight disappeared behind the distant mountains, leaving the halls quieter than usual.

The servants’ footsteps softened. The air felt heavier at night, like the castle itself finally exhaled after enduring an entire day of politics, tension, and whispered conversations.

Aire lay awake on her bed.

Her eyes remained fixed on the ceiling above her while silence wrapped itself around the room.

Sleep wouldn’t come.

She had tried.

After Madam brought dinner to her chambers earlier that evening, Aire had forced herself to eat quietly alone. The tray still rested near the fireplace now, mostly untouched despite Madam’s watchful insistence that she finish it.

Aire turned slightly onto her side.

Her thoughts refused to settle.

The meeting from earlier still lingered in her mind. Her chest tightened faintly at the thought of Nate.

Aire immediately rolled onto her back again.

She refused to think about that.

Her fingers tightened slightly over the blanket as she pulled it up to her chest. Another thought surfaced again about Mabel. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Aire stared at the ceiling quietly.

Mabel had been unexpectedly kind to her since she got to this castle. She could be exhausting sometimes, but kind in ways Aire hadn’t expected.

And because of her, Alpha Rowanfall had been removed from court.

Aire’s lashes lowered slowly.

She remembered that day too clearly. The insult, the humiliation, and the anger that had filled the chamber.

Yet despite everything, Mabel had still stayed beside her afterward. She never beamed her for the dismissal of her father.

Aire swallowed softly.

Perhaps... Perhaps she should do something for Mabel. Her gaze shifted toward the dark windows.

King Elijah respected Nate’s voice in court more than anyone else’s. If Nate spoke, perhaps Alpha Rowanfall could be allowed back gradually.

It was the least she could do for Mabel.

Aire sat up slowly.

The room was quiet enough that the faint rustling of her blanket sounded loud. Her feet touched the floor as she left her bed.

For a moment, she hesitated.

he reached for the shawl folded neatly near the edge of the bed. She draped it over her shoulders carefully before reaching for the candle stand resting near the fireplace.

The flame flickered softly. Aire stared at it briefly. She rose fully and walked toward the door.

The guards outside straightened immediately when the doors opened.

"Your Grace."

Aire nodded lightly. She stepped into the corridor before pausing.

"I..." She hesitated faintly. "I need to speak to Alpha Nate."

The guards exchanged a brief glance.

One of them looked visibly startled.

"At this hour?" he asked before quickly lowering his head further. "Forgive me."

Aire suddenly became aware of how strange this probably looked.

Heat rose faintly into her face. "I only wish to discuss something important," she said quietly.

The older guard studied her carefully for a second longer before bowing deeply. "I will take you there, my Luna."

Aire nodded softly.

The guard began walking ahead, leading her through the dim corridors.

The castle felt different at night.

The sounds of distant movement echoed faintly through the halls while shadows stretched across the stone walls.

Aire followed silently behind the guard, holding the candle stand carefully in both hands.

Her nerves slowly began creeping in the closer they got. This was Nate. Perhaps this was a terrible idea. He barely tolerated her most days.

Aire swallowed softly.

The guard finally slowed before a large dark door guarded by two wolves standing outside.

The guard stepped aside immediately.

"We’ve arrived, my Luna."

Aire stared at the door. Her heartbeat suddenly felt louder than the hallway itself. This was Nate’s chambers.

The guard bowed before quietly retreating away.

Now she stood alone. Aire tightened her hold slightly around the candle stand. For a moment, she genuinely considered turning around and leaving.

This could wait until morning.

Morning sounded wiser.

Far wiser.

She took one step backward, then stopped. Mabel’s face crossed her mind briefly.

Aire sighed softly. She had already come this far. Slowly, she stepped forward again. Then finally, she knocked on the door.

Silence followed immediately afterward.

Aire’s heartbeat quickened.

Nate’s voice came from inside the chamber after what seemed like an eternity. "Who’s there?"

His tone sounded rougher than usual tonight. He sounded deep and unpleasant.

Aire tightened her fingers around the candle stand.

"Aire," she replied softly.

Silence greated her. Complete silence.

Aire’s throat tightened slightly. For a horrible second, she thought he might ignore her entirely.

Then finally, he spoke again. "Come in." He ordered.

Aire exhaled quietly before pushing the door open. Warmth met her first when she stepped in, followed by his scent of cedarwood and something distinctly Nate.

Aire stepped inside carefully.

The room was large, though darker than she expected. Only a few candles burned around the chamber. Shadows stretched across the walls and furniture.

Nate sat before a vanity mirror near the far side of the room.

A male servant stood beside him carefully shaving his beard with a razor while foam rested along Nate’s jaw.

Aire blinked once.

For some reason, she hadn’t expected this. She didn’t know what she had expected ad she hadn’t given it much thought but she knew she didn’t expect the sight.

Nate’s eyes flickered toward her through the mirror briefly, then away again as he wordlessly urged her to speak.

Aire remained near the door.

"I want to speak to you," she announced quietly.

Nate’s gaze lifted toward hers again through the reflection. His eyes moved lazily toward the servant beside him before returning to her.

"That’s a surprise." He replied, his voicce smooth and unreadable.

Aire swallowed softly.

"It troubles me," she admitted. "And I can’t sleep with it on my mind."

For a moment, Nate simply watched her through the mirror. After a while, he lifted two fingers lightly and tapped the servant’s wrist.

The servant immediately stopped shaving.

"Leave." He ordered.

The servant bowed instantly. "Yes, Alpha."

He cleaned the blade quickly before turning toward Aire respectfully. "My Luna." he greated.

Aire nodded faintly.

The servant left the chamber. The door shut behind him and silence immediately swallowed the room whole.

Aire looked around slowly.

This was her first time inside any Alpha’s private chamber and somehow, Nate’s room looked exactly like him.

She didn’t know how else to explain it.

The room felt restrained and controlled.

The dark wood lined the walls with weapons rested neatly near one side of the chamber. There were no unnecessary decorations.

Aire’s gaze drifted slowly before returning to Nate again.

He picked the razor back up casually, then resumed shaving.

Aire blinked faintly. That annoyed her slightly. He was casually ignoring her, like she wasn’t there.

Nate cleared his throat once.

Aire looked at him.

He cleared it again. This time, he stopped shaving entirely before turning slightly toward her.

"Come."

Aire blinked.

Nate stretched the razor toward her lazily. "Take this."

Aire stared at the blade, then slowly looked back at him. "Are you really giving me that much opportunity to kill you?" she inquired curiously, before she could stop herself from speaking.

A faint chuckle escaped him immediately. "Watching you try won’t be boring." He teased, his voice velvet soft.

The sound of his voice wrapped around her strangely. Aire swallowed softly before setting the candle stand aside carefully.

Sge walked toward him.

Nate watched her approach openly. Something unreadable flickered behind his eyes.

Aire stopped beside him.

Closer now, she noticed how broad he truly was even seated down. The sleeves of his dark shirt were rolled slightly upward, revealing strong forearms marked faintly with old scars that might be taking sweet time to heal.

Her eyes flickered upward again.

Nate smiled faintly, then held the razor out further.

Aire stared at him for another second before finally taking it from his hand.

The metal felt cool against her fingers.

Her eyes held his steadily. She moved and positioned herself before him. Suddenly, without warning, she grabbed a handful of his hair roughly, and shoved his head backward hard.

Nate’s eyes widened for the briefest fraction of a second, then he grinned.