Chapter Seventeen
Louise's POV
Morning light spilled gently through the tall windows of my chambers, painting the room in soft gold. I stirred slowly, stretching beneath the covers as the distant sounds of the palace waking reached my ears servants moving through the halls, guards changing shifts, the faint echo of wolves greeting the dawn.
For the first time in days, my mind felt clear.
Yesterday's council confrontation still lingered in my thoughts, but instead of anger, a quiet determination filled my chest.
Today, I had something to prove.
After dressing in simple training clothes, I stepped into the corridor and nearly collided with Tess, who looked as though she had been searching for me.
"Louise," she said with relief. "Good, you're awake."
I smiled faintly. "Where are you off to so early?"
Tess adjusted the strap of the small bag hanging from her shoulder. "I'm visiting my mother. She's staying with relatives in the Crescent River Pack for a few days."
"That's quite a journey."
She shrugged. "Family rarely gives us warnings before demanding our presence."
I chuckled softly.
But Tess's gaze quickly sharpened as she studied me. "Before you run off to wherever you're planning to go today, you're eating breakfast."
"I was planning to," I protested.
"You were planning to skip it," she corrected firmly, grabbing my wrist and dragging me toward the dining hall.
The dining hall was quieter than usual, sunlight streaming across the long wooden table.
Tess sat with me while I ate, occasionally glancing toward the entrance as if expecting something.
Or someone.
And sure enough, moments later, the heavy doors opened.
Kyle walked in.
The entire room seemed to shift around his presence. Servants straightened, guards stiffened, and even the air felt heavier.
I kept eating.
But I couldn't stop the small clearing of my throat that slipped out."Ehem".
Kyle noticed immediately.
His eyes flicked toward me.
"Do you want to say something?" he asked calmly.
I lifted my head slowly… then deliberately leaned sideways and looked behind me.
As if he had been speaking to someone else.
Kyle's brow twitched.
Tess pressed her lips together, clearly trying not to laugh.
Kyle stepped closer to the table. "Louise."
I continued eating.
"You're ignoring me."
I shrugged lightly. "Was that meant for me?"
His jaw tightened slightly.
For a moment, it looked like he was trying to decide whether to argue or let it go.
Instead, he tried again.
"So," he said, taking a seat across from me, "what are you doing today?"
I finished the last bite of food on my plate and calmly set the utensils down.
Then I stood.
Kyle frowned. "Where are you going?"
His voice changed slightly this time deeper, heavier.
The subtle pressure of an Alpha aura filled the air.
My wolf stirred uneasily.
Damn him.
I turned slowly.
"To the training grounds," I answered.
His eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
"To train."
He leaned back slightly, clearly annoyed.
For a moment, I thought he might argue.
But then something shifted in his expression.
A flicker of memory crossed his face
Instead of protesting, he exhaled slowly.
"I see."
He stood.
"I'll take you."
I shook my head immediately.
"I'm not going in a car."
His brow lifted. "Then how are you getting there?"
I met his gaze calmly.
"I'm running."
"In human form?"
"No."
A small smile touched my lips.
"In my wolf form. It's a warm-up."
For a brief second, something sparked in Kyle's eyes.
"Then I'll run with you."
My answer came instantly.
"No."
The single word hung between us like a blade.
Silence stretched.
Kyle extended a hand slightly, as if about to stop me.
But the words never came.
Instead, I turned and walked away.
Behind me, I could feel his gaze burning into my back.
And when I glanced over my shoulder briefly, I saw him still standing there hand half-raised,
expression unreadable,
as if he wanted to call me back but didn't know how.