CHAPTER 12
"Shifting Grounds"
Rosa's POV
I can't lie—
The pain inflicted on me from that night… it's something that will remain evergreen in my memory. It wasn't the first time I'd been a victim—though back then, Edward had stepped in and fought for me before anything could happen.
This time… I felt violated. Stripped. Powerless.
A soft knock brought me out of the memory.
"Your Majesty…"
I turned to see Paige standing at the door, worry etched into every corner of her face.
"What is it, my lady?" I asked, trying to sound like myself.
"Are you okay?" she asked carefully, stepping forward. Her voice was soft, but her eyes scanned me like a sister, not a servant.
"I'm... okay," I lied with a fake smile, brushing my hair back.
She didn't look convinced, but she didn't push. Instead, she poured some wine into a glass cup and handed it over gently.
I took a sip before rising from my seat.
"Paige… escort me to the kitchen. I want to prepare chicken soup for His Majesty."
She blinked in surprise. "You… you want to cook?"
"Yes. For him."
It was the least I could do after what he did for me.
---
Bryant's POV
I sat at my desk, my eyes scanning the Pack archives. My fists clenched harder with every page.
Who dared to do this?
Who had the audacity to touch my Luna?
"Your Majesty," my Beta Kael's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. He stepped in, avoiding eye contact.
"I'm sorry… there was no scent trace. The wolf vanished before shifting. The guards saw nothing."
I gritted my teeth and reached for the wine jar, nearly crushing it with the force of my grip.
"I don't care how clean he thinks he is... I'll find him. Even if I have to search every damn inch of this kingdom."
Kael gave a nod and turned to leave.
Just then, the voice of the announcer rang from outside.
"Luna Rosa has arrived at the door!"
I immediately fixed my posture, straightened the scattered papers, and nodded at Kael to leave.
Rosa walked in quietly, balancing a tray with both grace and humility. She wore a soft green gown that swayed as she walked, her hair tied loosely behind her back.
"Your Majesty," she said, carefully setting down a bowl of soup before me. "I made this for you… I just… I'm grateful. For everything. For protecting me."
I stared at her, heart thumping.
Her eyes were gentle, full of emotion. She wasn't just grateful—she was beginning to trust me.
"Don't thank me," I said after a moment, keeping my voice firm but soft. "It's my responsibility to protect you."
She smiled, just a little, and it lit up her entire face.
"Still… try it. And tell me what you think. I need a review."
She folded her arms, arching a brow playfully.
I chuckled under my breath, taking the spoon and gulping the soup. The taste was… rich. Soft. Comforting.
"It's good," I said truthfully. "Really good."
"I'll make more for you from now on," she said, almost shyly.
I held back the urge to smile too wide.
She was opening up. Slowly, but genuinely.
Once she left, I shut the door, my body slumping back into the chair.
I reached into my drawer and pulled out my allergy medication. My skin was already beginning to react to the chicken in the soup.
But I ate it anyway.
Because she made it for me.
And that meant more than I could explain.