The buzz of conversation in the Clifflands stadium faded as I walked away from Augustin, Maddox, and Quinn. I couldn’t face Juno, not yet, maybe not ever. The confrontation between my companions and Augustin provided the perfect excuse to escape.
As I navigated through the corridors, my mind drifted back to Juno. We’d been together since we were seventeen. Seven years. It seemed both an eternity and a heartbeat. How could something that had defined such a significant portion of my life be reduced to such a brief chapter?
Shame washed over me as I walked, the bitter taste of it coating my tongue. Juno had accomplished what I couldn’t. She’d kept her promises while I had broken mine. The night she came home naked and covered in wounds flashed through my mind. She’d reminded me of my vow to her, and I had just sat there on our couch.
The truth I couldn’t escape was simple: I was afraid. Afraid of losing the precious gift that had been given to me. I had hoped Juno would understand, would accept this fundamental weakness in me.
I remembered telling Kieran that Juno would reject him for Augustin. The words I hadn’t believed it myself, I’d just wanted to stop Kieran from pursuing her When I heard she had actually rejected him, my shame only deepened.
Augustin Levenston was a better match for Juno. He made promises and kept them. He was the kind of man I had failed to be.
I would have to prepare myself for friendship with Juno, though it would be excruciating. But friendship, however painful, was better than silence and distance. At least I might regain some of the trust of the woman who had once been my confidante.
When I returned to our private box, Charles was sitting beside Isabelle. Hatred bubbled up in my chest at the sight of him. Augustin had told me that Charles had orchestrated the attack on Verdantia in Lakeside territory, framing Quinn in the process. The deaths from that raid still haunted me.
‘Matthew, Isabelle greeted me with a smile. “How did the meeting with Augustin go?”
Not well, I lied, keeping my expression neutral. She frowned, reaching out to rub my back before kissing my upper arm.
“I hope the Alpha King isn’t too angry,” she said, concern in her voice.
I continued the lie. “Maddox and Quinn got in Augustin’s face, which made me nervous.” Isabelle’s frown deepened.
“Those stupid Alphas,” she muttered. “Quinn is the one who got Forestvale in trouble in the first place, and Maddox nearly caused a second incident.”
I patted her hand reassuringly. The last thing I needed was for her to go into labor in a box at the Clifflands stadium.
I wanted to tell her the truth, that it wasn’t Quinn but her treacherous father who had caused the trouble. But I held my tongue.
“My father could support you against Quinn and Maddox in the Council,” Isabelle suggested, smiling at her father. “Forestvale was much more peaceful when he was in charge.”
Charles shook his head. “Maddox and Quinn have Matthew’s support. I can’t oppose that.”
Isabelle looked at me expectantly. “You would support my father, wouldn’t you?”
‘No, I replied bluntly. “Alpha Charles is retired, and I can keep Quinn and Maddox in check.”
*Clearly you can’t,” Isabelle argued, “or they wouldn’t be causing wars and friction between Clifflands and Forestyale.”
‘Quinn didn’t attack the western border of Verdantia,” I stated firmly. “I believe him, and I don’t care who did it.” I kept my face neutral, not wanting to alert the actual culprit sitting right beside us.
Isabelle’s face flushed with emotion. Do you remember how Juno was taken away in chains? She could have painted the inger at me or let them kill you, but she sacrificed herself.”
“And now she’s the Luna Queen of Clifflands,” Charles commented with jealousy in his voice. “Quite fortunate for he
“She did get lucky with the Alpha King.” Isabelle agreed.
I cut the conversation short. “Let’s head back to the hotel. Im tired of this conversation. In truth, I was tired of Charles and still processing what Augustin had told me about his involvement in the attack.
Back at the hotel suite we shared with Maddox and Quinn, I showered and changed into comfortable clothes. I picked up the internal phone in order room
service.
‘What do you want to eat?” I asked Isabelle as she emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her body.
C
