Hours later, Beta Jonathan stood outside Alpha Ryker’s office, feeling the full weight of his failure. He dreaded stepping inside, knowing Ryker’s temper would be nothing short of murderous. Jonathan took a deep breath before pushing open the heavy door. Inside, Ryker paced back and forth, his posture radiating anger and frustration. The afternoon had been tense enough for King Markus and his delegation. Ryker had been forced to endure endless hours of diplomatic discussions, all while Bella's absence pressed him like a wound, deepening with every second the king remained on their ground. Ryker had watched each of his guests leave with barely concealed desperation.
It was years of planning down the drain, all his strategies and alliances meticulously formed to culminate in the upcoming a
