Chapter 32

The morning began the way it always did: quiet, predictable, and a little too lonely for Althea’s liking. She had fallen into a routine lately, one that helped her keep her head down and avoid the endless whispers that seemed to swirl around the pack. Most mornings, she woke up before the sun had fully risen, dressed quickly, and found herself tucked away in one of the quieter parts of the estate before the rest of the pack was awake. Today was no different. Althea sat in the far corner of the garden, her hands resting on her lap as she watched the early sunlight dapple the flowers with gold. It was peaceful here, and she needed peace more than ever. The days since she overheard Kaden’s conversation with Bianca had been heavy. She’d tried to bury her doubts, to convince herself that she was overreacting, but the words still echoed in her mind. It had sounded like duty, not devotion. A claim made to silence Bianca, not to reassure Althea. She hadn’t spoken to Kaden about it. How could s