I stood at the window of my study, watching the palace grounds come alive with preparations for my departure. A diplomatic mission I couldn't avoid, despite how much I hated leaving my mate behind. Guards loaded supplies onto vehicles, advisors scurried about with last-minute reports, and through it all, I felt the persistent ache of Seraphina's silence through our bond.
My wolf paced restlessly. *Fix it,* he demanded. *Our mate is upset.*
*I'm trying,* I responded. *But she needs to understand why this is necessary.*
Three days of the silent treatment from Seraphina was both frustrating and, if I was honest with myself, somewhat amusing. My fierce little mate had mastered the art of being in the same room while making it abundantly clear I might as well be on another continent. She answered direct questions with clipped responses, avoided eye contact, and retreated behind a wall of cool politeness that drove my wolf mad.
