Mute

Caspian’s POV

The dawn brought with it an oppressive warmth, so stark and sudden that it almost felt sorred

Last night, I had been shivering in the biting cold of Ethan territory, battling, enemies and my own etranten

Now, the heat season had arrived, and with it, a relentless wave of desire that left me breathlen.

I lay in bed, struggling to believe how quickly everything, had changed. The heat posed through me, writing every nerve, making me painfully aware of the primal urge stirring within. My wolf was invalukle, demanding, satisfaction, and I cursed under my breath.

This season had always been a challenge. Before, I had taken willing women to quell the fire, a temporary rese

for an uncontrollable beast.

But now, things were different. Responsibilities weighed heavily on my shoulders, and the thonge of indeling, felt like a dangerous distraction. I forced myself to get out of bed, the sheets sticking to my sweat-dampened in

The castle was already alive with activity, the chatter of maids and guards seeping through the thick walls,

“Can you believe it’s the heat season already?” one of the maids whispered right next to my door. I could best because of my keen ears. “I thought it would never come?

“I know,” another replied. “I need to finish up quickly so I can see my mate

Their voices were filled with excitement and anticipation, an opposite to what I felt inside.

I grabbed a shirt from the chair beside my bed and pulled it on, the fabric rough against my overheated skin. I needed to stay focused, to keep my mind on the tasks at hand.

Stepping out of my room, I was greeted by the sight of the castle busy with life.

Maids hurried past with trays of food, guards exchanged knowing glances, and a few couples stole heated Kines when they thought no one was looking

The air was thick with anticipation and longing, a reminder of the season’s influence.

I made my way through the corridors, nodding to those who greeted me, but my mind was elsewhere.

I needed to find a way to channel this restless energy. A swim might help, I thought, though I knew it would only be a temporary fix. There were more pressing matters to tackle firm.

As I reached the council chamber, I paused for a moment, taking in the scene around me. The caule, my home, was alive with the rhythms of life, love, and duty,This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

It was my responsibility to ensure it all ran smoothly, to protect those within these walls. Yet, inspite of all this, the heat season threatened to unravel me.

Taking a deep breath, 1 prepared myself for the day ahead. The desire still burned within me, but I pushed it down, locking it away for now. There were more important things to handle, and I couldn’t afford to love control Not today. Not ever.

“Alpha Caspian,” a servant greeted me, bowing slightly. “The council is waiting”

“Thank you,” I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. “I’ll be there shortly.”

As I walked into the chamber, I could hear the discussions ready in progress. My council members were deep in sation, their voices rising and falling with the urgency of the matters at hand. I took my seat at the head of the table, ready to dive into the day’s work.

“Alpha Caspian,” one of the advisors began, “we need to address the rogue attacks on the northern borders. They’ve been increasing in frequency.”

“We’ll need to reinforce our patrols,” I said, my mind sharpening as I focused on the issue. “And increase surveillance. We can’t afford any more breaches.”

As the discussions continued, I found a temporary reprieve from the heat coursing through me. But just as I was starting to think I might get through the day without incident, Elijah entered the chamber, his expression serious.

“Caspian,” he said, approaching me. “Your parents have requested your presence for lunch.”

I nearly facepalmed at the news. Lunch with my parents was never a simple affair, especially nót now. I could already feel the tension building, knowing this was likely to end in a confrontation.

“Of course they have,” I muttered under my breath. Louder, I said, “Fine, Elijah. I’ll be there.”

Elijah nodded, his eyes reflecting his understanding. He knew how these meetings tended to go.

I turned back to the council, trying to wrap up the discussions quickly. “We’ll reconvene later to finalize our plans. For now, I have another matter to attend to.”

The council members nodded, and I rose from my seat, clenching my jaw.

As I approached the dining hall, a sense of unease settled over me. I could hear the murmur of voices from within, and I prepared myself for whatever awaited.

Stepping through the door, my eyes fell upon the table, and I nearly turned away when I caught sight of Ellen and her parents seated there.

I couldn’t believe it. My father had invited Ellen’s parents, and worse, Ellen herself was still in the castle. The tension in the room was evident, and I felt my anger rising.

Just as I was about to leave, my father’s stern voice cut through the air. “Caspian, come and join us. We need to

talk.”

I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to comply. With measured steps, I made my way to the table, every muscle in my body tense. I could feel all eyes on me, the weight of expectation heavy on my shoulders.

“What’s this about?” I asked, my voice barely masking my irritation.

“We need to discuss the future,” my father began, his tone one of forced calm. “Ellen and her family have come to speak with us about the recent… developments.”

Exasperation bubbled within me, and I couldn’t hold back any longer. “Developments? You mean the fact that I’ve made my choice clear and you’re all still wasting your time?

“Caspian, stop this at once!” my mother’s voice was sharp, filled with anger. “You’re being incredibly insensitive. Can’t you see how much pain this is causing?”

I turned to face her, my resolve unwavering. “The only thing I see is that you’re all refusing to accept reality. I love Aria, and nothing is going to change that. Trying to force me into a marriage with Ellen is not only futile but cruel to everyone involved.”

Ellen’s parents exchanged angry glances, their expressions turning stormy. Ellen herself began to sob, her shoulders shaking as tears streamed down her face.

“How dare you speak to us like this?” Ellen’s father demanded, his voice trembling with anger. “Our daughter has been humiliated, and you think you can just walk away?”

“I’m sorry for the pain this has caused,” I replied, my voice firm but measured. “But it’s better to end this now than to live a lie. Ellen deserves someone who loves her, and that someone isn’t me.”

Ellen’s sobs grew louder, and her mother glared at me with a mixture of fury and despair. “You’re making a terrible mistake, Caspian. This will bring nothing but more heartache.”

“I’m doing what’s right,” I insisted, my gaze sweeping across the table. “For everyone. Continuing this charade would only lead to more suffering.”

The room fell silent, the weight of my words hanging in the air. My father’s face was a mask of barely controlled rage, while my mother looked at me with a mix of disappointment and sorrow.

Finally, my father spoke, his voice low and dangerous. “We will discuss this later, Caspian. For now, you should leave

I nodded, turning away from the table and walking out of the dining hall. The door closed behind me with a heavy thud, and I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart.

I stormed down the corridor, cursing under my breath. The confrontation with my parents and Ellen’s family had left me seething. I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I didn’t notice the figure coming around the corner until it was too late. We collided, and I instinctively reached out to catch the person as they stumbled, their tray clattering to the floor and scattering its contents.

I knew it was Aria before I even looked down, her familiar scent filling the air. My arms wrapped around her petite, shivering body, steadying her on her feet. She looked up at me, her eyes wide and filled with surprise.

“Aria, I’m so sorry,” I said, my voice softening.

She didn’t respond, just pulled away from my hold and bent to pick up the broken pieces of glass. I grabbed her hand, pulling her up once more. “Don’t,” I scolded, “you’ll hurt yourself.”

She didn’t answer, only kept her eyes downcast. I noticed the dark circles under her eyes, evidence of a sleepless night. “You didn’t get any sleep, did you?” I asked, concern creeping into my voice. “You should be resting, not working after what happened last night.”

Before I could stop her, her hand grazed the broken glass, and blood welled up from a fresh cut. I cursed under my breath and scooped her up in my arms, carrying her in a bridal style. Gasps echoed around us, and I could feel the eyes of guards and maids on us.

Aria’s eyes widened in shock. She signed quickly, ‘What are you doing? Put me down immediately!’

I shook my head, my grip firm. “You’re so careless, always getting hurt,” I muttered, heading towards the infirmary. ‘You’re creating a scene,’ she signed furiously, ‘People already hate me enough here!

I stopped briefly, looking down at her. “If anyone bothers you, let me know,” I signed back, my gaze intense.

She shook her head, her expression defiant. “This doesn’t mean I hate you any less,’ she signed, her hands trembling slightly.

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I couldn’t help but chuckle, despite the situation. “I’m not putting you down,” I said aloud, continuing on our way to the infirmary.

Once there, I gently set her down on a bed and gathered the first aid supplies myself. She watched me, her eyes wary but silent.

“Hold still,” I instructed, taking her injured hand in mine. As I cleaned the wound and wrapped it with care, I could feel her eyes on me, a mix of confusion and something else I couldn’t quite place.

“There,” I said finally, securing the bandage. “All done.”

She signed, ‘You didn’t have to do that.

I met her gaze, my expression serious. “Yes, I did,” I replied softly. “I can’t sit back and watch you get hurt, Aria. Not anymore.”

She looked away, her eyes filling with unspoken emotions. I knew this was only the beginning, but I was determined to show her that she mattered, no matter how hard she tried to push me away.