And I had already given the maids their instructions: the moment she woke up, the consummation would take place. I told myself this was it—we'd get it over with, produce an heir, and I'd go back to ignoring her.
But now? Looking at her from this stupid couch, I didn't recognize the woman in my bed. The fire in her eyes when she'd slapped me, the way she'd kneed me without hesitation, the way she looked at me like I was nothing more than an inconvenience—it was like she'd been possessed. My wolf stirred inside me, restless, sensing something off. The bond between us, that faint thread from the marriage rite, felt different too. Stronger, maybe. It pulled at me, making my skin itch.
I couldn't just lie here. I needed answers. Quietly, I pushed off the couch, my bare feet silent on the cold
