Another Chance for the Luna Queen

"Talk to your father," I pleaded. "Ask him. Ask the servants if anyone new has been frequenting the house, if he's been meeting with anyone. Someone is swaying his decisions."

Elizabeth hesitated before responding. "Okay. I'll do what I can.”

"Thank you," I said, hoping she could hear the sincerity in my voice. "I'm depending on you."

"I won't let you down."

The call disconnected, and a heavy silence settled over the room.

"This has gotten far too messy," August muttered, pulling our attention back to him. "Too many loose ends."

"Then it's time we start cutting them," Alexander growled.

My heart leapt at his words—and at the promise of violence they carried. But instead of fear, I felt something else entirely.

Relief. He was right. I had come back to stop this, to protect our people. And if that meant certain individuals needed to be taken care of... then maybe I was more of a match for the Ice King than I had ever realized.

"That's right," I said firmly. "If the king won't deal with Archer, then we will. The same goes for Amanda."

August studied me for a long moment, his sharp gaze searching as if trying to solve a puzzle. Then he turned to Alexander. "What are your orders?"

"Watch him. Find out who he's been in contact with. He didn't arrange this alone- Amanda isn't clever enough to pull this off by herself."

August nodded. "Understood. I'll let you know as soon as I have more information."

His eyes flicked to me briefly before he turned and left the apartment.

The moment we were alone, Alexander pulled me into his arms.

His arms around me were just a little too tight-his embrace possessive-but I took comfort in it, returning the strength of his hold with my own, my fingers gripping his back.

Alexander and I never would have found each other if I hadn't been given a second chance, and I wasn't going to lose him now. I wouldn't let anyone take me away from him.

"I love you," he whispered, his lips brushing the top of my head.

"I love you too," I murmured.

"This is going to be dangerous. People are going to die," he said, his voice low, filled with an emotion I couldn't quite place.

I tightened my grip. "I know. But as long as it's the right people, I don't care."

He pulled back slightly, his gaze searching my face before a smirk tugged at his lips.

"My pretty little puzzle," he murmured. "I never would have thought you had a side like this."

"And I never would have had it," I answered, "if Amanda hadn't murdered me."

The light in Alexander's bright eyes darkened, a flash of rage surfacing-one I had only seen a few times before.

"She'll pay for that," he said, his voice steel. "She'll pay for every attempt she's made against you."

"We have to be careful," I warned. "Our emotions will make us reckless."

That was the reason I had denied my feelings for Alexander for so long-we couldn't afford mistakes. There was far too much at stake.

I saw the conflict in his eyes, the war between reason and fury. He knew I was right, but he had been pushed to a breaking point where logic no longer came easily.

My wolf whined at the distress in my mate, an instinctive response to his turmoil. I reached up, wrapping my arms around his neck, and pulled him into a kiss.

He returned the pressure with a passion that sent warmth spiraling through me.

I couldn't take his anger away. But for now, I could distract him-give him a

moment to breathe, to find control again. And remind him that I was still here. That we were still together.

And that we would fight to make sure that never changed.noveldrama