Chapter 17
I stood on the highest balcony of Ironshade.
Behind me, I heard footsteps that were not hurried.
That scent-I knew it well. A mixture of pine needles, fire, and masculinity that could only come from one wolf: Alpha Liam.
I didn’t turn around. I just kept staring at the sky. “It’s finally over.”
My vengeance is gone, replaced by satisfaction that they’re finally destroyed.
‘The sky looks different tonight,” his voice was low, calm. “Or maybe it’s because you’re finally seeing it without the weight.”
took a deep breath, letting it fill my lungs. “It could be both.”
He approached, and I could feel his presence right behind me. Warm. Too close.
What… is my dress strap about to come undone again?” I said calmly, holding back my
nervousness.
He chuckled softly, his voice like the clinking of light metal. “No. Not even from the start. I just vanted to see your panicked face.”
spun around, glaring at him. But our eyes met-oh northern gods-he was standing too close. My breath caught.
Back off, Alpha,” I hissed softly, trying to sound fierce. But my voice came out like a hesitant vhisper.
But he just smiled crookedly, a smile that could melt winter snow. “You don’t mind, do you?” His face tonight… for some reason, it looked calmer. No arrogance, no demands. Just someone vho had known me long before the world knew me as Princess Ironshade.
The party was perfect,” he finally said. “And I’m proud of you. Not because of who your father is. But because you stood in the middle of it all, unafraid.”
My heart felt like it was being squeezed from within. No one had ever said that to me before.
looked into his face, and for the first time, I saw him not as the Alpha. But as… Liam. My childhood friend. My protector now. The one who knew my wounds but never let them become veaknesses.
Somehow, my body moved before my mind could catch up.
tiptoed… and kissed his lips.
Briefly.
Gently.
But filled with thousands of emotions I couldn’t put into words.
I was surprised by myself. “What am I doing?” My cheeks flushed as I stepped back quickly, wanting to hide my face.
But he pulled me closer, enveloping me in his strong, warm embrace. His broad chest felt oddly
reassuring as a place to lean on.
“You didn’t forget our promise about spending a day together, did you?” he whispered, right into my ear. His voice was soft but trembling.
I nodded in his embrace. “Of course not.”
He kissed me again, this time with deeper, more certain feeling. Not hurriedly, as if time had stopped so we could linger in that moment.
When he let go, I could barely breathe.
“Tomorrow morning,” he said, gently touching my cheek, “we’ll be two silly kids again, running through the forest and stealing bread from the kitchen.”
I laughed softly, my eyes brimming with tears. “Will we go to the lake?”
“And let time forget that we were once strangers to each other.”
He kissed my forehead, then left me alone on the balcony-but my heart was full. Full of memories. Full of new feelings beginning to grow amid the ruins of resentment and wounds.
That night, for the first time in years, I felt alive. Not just as a princess. Not just as revenge.
But maybe to slowly fall in love again.
The next day, Alpha Liam kept his promise.
At the edge of the lake, he was waiting for me. Sitting on a weathered wooden plank, beside a small campfire that had been burning for who knows how long.
‘It really is like a date reminiscing about childhood, isn’t it?” I asked as I stepped closer, brushing he leaves still wet with morning dew.
iam lifted his face, smiling broadly with bright, sparkling eyes. “Do you still remember this
place?”
chuckled, sitting down beside him casually. “Of course. The first place you fell into the muc rying to show off your shape-shifting abilities in front of me.” My voice was filled with light easing, but my heart was warm.
He laughed, his voice deep and comforting. “And you just laughed your head off instead of helping me. You’re really cruel, Hel.”
looked at him with a mischievous smile. “I just wanted to see you fall again, so you’d know you’re not a god in front of me.”
Liam shook his head, running his hand over his chin, which was starting to grow a thin beard. “If I could have said anything back then… You were funny, Hel. Funny and mischievous. But also the only one who could make me want to keep going back then.”
I fell silent for a moment, gazing at the lake shimmering in the morning sunlight. “Back then, we lived without burdens. Without titles, without big secrets, without grudges. Now, after everything that’s happened, who would’ve thought we’d still be sitting here like this?”
Liam looked at me sharply. “I know you’ve been trying to stay strong all this time. So have I. But today… I want us to be kids again, to forget all our problems.”
I smiled and nodded slowly.
“Hey, look at that,” Liam pointed to the bushes filled with wild berries. “There’s still some left to
pick. Come on, let’s pick them and eat them.”
We walked slowly toward the bushes, our hands busy picking the tempting red berries. I touched his hand without realizing it, and he gently returned my grip.
“Liam, why didn’t you ever say you missed our childhood?” I asked in a low voice.
He looked off into the distance. “I thought you felt it too. But we’re both too stubborn to admit it.”
I chuckled. “Well, that’s why I had to start first.”
He turned, his expression gentle yet meaningful. “Hel, I… I want you to know, I’ve always cared about you. No matter what happens, you’re still a part of my life.”
stared at him for a long time, my chest filled with a mix of emotions that were hard to describe.
Suddenly, I playfully splashed water at him. “Ha! Now it’s your turn to get wet!”
He laughed loudly, then splashed water back at me.
Ve ran along the edge of the lake, laughing and shouting like two children discovering the worlc or the first time.
Liam, this is too much fun,” I said, trying to dodge his attacks.
le came closer and looked at me intensely. “I don’t want this moment to pass by so quickly.”
sighed, standing facing the lake again. “We have to go back to the real world, Liam. The world vith responsibilities and burdens.”
le stood beside me, taking my hand. “But sometimes, we can choose to forget all that, right? ust for a few hours, like today.”
nodded slowly. “Yes. I want to believe that.”
Ve sat back down on the wooden log, savoring the silence that felt so full. Liam pulled me loser and whispered, “No crown. No responsibilities. Just us and the peace.”
looked at him and teased, “Right. Now you’ve grown into a strong, terrifying wolf! But today ou’re just a little kid who’s cold.”
le turned to me, looking at me with serious yet loving eyes. “I won’t show that face to you nymore. You’re the exception.”
My heart trembled.
I wish time would stop here,” I whispered.
iam nodded in agreement. “Me too.”
As the day turned to evening, he suddenly stood up. “I’ll bring you some special food, wait a
noment.”
Before I could ask, he had already walked away. His back slowly disappeared.
‘He’s so sweet,” I murmured, unable to hold back. I didn’t know what this was. All I knew was that it felt wonderful.
I just smiled slightly and walked alone to the edge of the small hill, facing the valley. Just to reminisce about my childhood.
Until I heard footsteps.
Hurried footsteps. Unsteady. And the scent-I knew immediately. I hated the fact that I was too
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familiar with the signs of this wolf’s presence.
Samuel.
