In moments like this, Voren felt less like a king and more like a father.

Not just any father, but the kind who carried the weight of every child in his care. The pack was his family. Every wolf, every warrior, every pup born in the Grimroot pack was his responsibility.

Corvine might wear the Alpha title now, might command the warriors and make the hard calls, but at the end of the day, he still answered to Voren. That was the burden of the crown.

The endless, sleepless weight of knowing that every decision rippled outward, touching lives in ways he could never fully predict.

As a father, he was deeply concerned about the future of his children.

But that didn’t mean he would manipulate things to his advantage. No. He wanted them to choose wisely. To find happiness that would last a lifetime, even if it meant losing them to another pack. Even if it meant watching them walk away and never look back.

That part hurt. Especially with those who carried too many pack secrets in their heads. But he would bear it. He always did.

Seraphine was quiet for a long moment, her mind working through the pieces, fitting them together like a puzzle only she could solve. Then her eyes widened, the revelation striking her like a bolt of lightning.

“From what I gathered from their conversation, Kael confessed that he still loved her.” Her voice came out slow, measured, as if she was still processing the words. “But he wasn’t ready to commit. He’s loved her for a long time. Was ready to do anything for her. But she fell in love with Corvine too quickly, even if it was for the same reason.”

Voren listened, his expression unreadable. “Jasmine never once mentioned that she loved Kael.” Seraphine’s brow furrowed, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Never once did anything to prove her love for him.”

Voren nodded slowly, encouraging her to continue. “She keeps insisting they should be together.” A sad shake of her head followed, her dark hair swaying across her shoulders. “Which makes it sound rather selfish.”

She paused, her gaze meeting his. “If only Jasmine could prove to Kael that she loved him equally, then he would be able to accept her regardless of the mate bond’s outcome.”

A smile spread across Voren’s face, warm and proud. She understood. She saw the situation with the same clarity he did, and that was why he loved her. “Now do you understand why I can’t get involved?”

Seraphine nodded, the pieces finally clicking into place. “Yeah. You still can’t figure out if Jasmine is just desperate or truly in love. And as their leader and father, you need to protect both their interests.”

The words had barely left her lips before Voren’s mouth claimed hers. The kiss was fierce, demanding, a collision of hunger and love that stole the breath from her lungs.

His hands found her waist, pulling her flush against him, and the heat of his body seeped through her clothes, warming her skin. His erection pressed against her thigh, hard and insistent, a testament to how deeply she affected him.

When he finally pulled away, his eyes were dark, hooded with desire. “I miss you, babe.”

Seraphine knew the language. In the office, Voren was always formal, always careful. He called her Sera, professional and measured. But babe? That meant he was in the mood. That meant he was thinking about tangled sheets and whispered moans and the way her body fit perfectly against his.

“I miss you too.” Her cheeks flushed with heat, but she held his gaze. “And I don’t think it would be bad if you go gentle.” She paused, a coy smile playing at her lips. “How about tonight?”

Voren’s lips thinned, a war raging behind his eyes. How could he refuse her? How could he deny himself the one thing he craved more than air? But the fear was still there, lurking beneath the desire, whispering warnings he couldn’t ignore.

“We’ll give it a try.” His voice came out rough, strained. “But if you feel any discomfort, you have to tell me. Okay?”

“Okay.”

But Voren couldn’t keep the thought to himself. It had been building since their conversation began, and now it demanded release. “Honestly? Your smart brain turns me on.”

Heat flooded Seraphine’s cheeks, painting them crimson. “You’re such a smooth talker.”

“Only with you, my sweet queen.”

He took her lips again, softer this time, a gentle promise of what was to come. When he pulled away, he straightened his shirt and smoothed his expression into something resembling composure.

“I want all the leaders together for the new constitutional review.” His voice had changed back to business, steady and commanding. “But before then, I’ll go have a word with Damon. You can organize the rest, and when we’re done, I’ll have a look at your office too.”

“It’s just the same as this one.” Seraphine’s shoulders lifted in a shrug. “Just in different colors. I figured we might be working from the same office most times, so they both have two desks.”

Voren’s heart swelled, warmth flooding through his chest. His wife was just as clingy as he was. She didn’t want to be away from him. Didn’t want separate spaces or independent lives. She wanted them tangled together, always.

“I love you.”

He kissed her again, then slipped out the door, his footsteps carrying him toward Damon’s office.

—

Damon was hunched over his desk, finalizing his report, when the knock came. He didn’t look up, assuming it was one of the pack members with a mundane question or a routine update.

“The door is open.”

The footsteps that followed were heavy. Intimidating. The kind of footsteps that made the air in the room change, grow thicker, charged with something unspoken.

Damon’s head snapped up, and when he saw Voren standing in the doorway, he shot to his feet. “King Voren.” Surprise colored his voice. “I’m surprised to see you here. You should’ve just mind linked me, and I’d have been at your office.”

“Do you not know about the no-title rule among leaders?” Voren’s brow arched, his tone dry. “Or are you just trying to get on my nerves?”

Damon shrugged, a mischievous glint flickering in his eyes. “Getting on your nerves is just as interesting.”

A chuckle escaped Voren before he could stop it, rumbling through his chest like thunder.

The leaders who had honed their skills in the city didn’t fear him the way the pack-bred leaders did. They met his gaze head-on, challenged him, pushed back. He was beginning to wonder what made the difference.

Perhaps he’d ask his wife another time.

“We’ll all be reviewing the new constitution together in the next thirty minutes.” Voren’s voice softened, dropping into something more personal. “But I’m quite interested in your love life.”

The smile on Damon’s face froze.