Chapter 202

Ella POV

Alexander lay on the couch with my head resting on his chest, his fingers moving lightly through my hair.

We’d spent most of the night tangled up together, and when he took the unprecedented step of calling off work this morning, I was shocked.

But instead of worrying about it, we spent the entire day like this—cuddling, holding each other, kissing lazily, and occasionally making our way back to the bedroom.

It was as if something had finally clicked into place. There was no more need to hide how we felt, not from ourselves or each other.

At some point, Alexander had ordered dinner to be delivered, which gave us even less reason to move. So we didn’t.

I listened to the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear, a small, contented smile tugging at my lips. It felt like both of us needed this—not just a break from the chaos that had been shadowing us, but a moment to truly be together without fear or distraction.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so content.

“I know you’re going stir-crazy, being stuck in the apartment all the time,” Alexander said suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence.

I craned my head up to look at him. He wasn’t looking at me, though; his gaze was distant, thoughtful.

“That’s true,” I admitted. “Not that there’s anything wrong with the apartment, but…”

“It’s not a good use of your time,” he finished for me, his voice soft but firm. “I think it’s time for you to start taking over some of the Luna tasks from my mother.”

I frowned. “I don’t think Diana is going to take that very well.”

“Probably not,” he agreed, finally looking down at me with a reassuring smile. “But it’s your role, and you’re right as my wife.” His expression softened with something deeper—pride, maybe. “Besides, now that I know you were the Luna Queen in a past life, I’m confident you can handle it.”

A small smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. “Yes,” I said, nodding. “I think I can.”

“We haven’t discussed the future at all,” Alexander said thoughtfully.

“No, we haven’t,” I agreed, my voice soft. “Because we didn’t plan on having a future together.”

“I think that plan has changed, hasn’t it?” His eyes searched mine, hopeful and open in a way that made my heart ache.

I smiled, brushing my fingers lightly over his hand. “Of course it has.”

“Good.” He let out a breath, as if a weight had been lifted off his chest. “Maybe it’s time we talk about what that future looks like.”

“What do you want to talk about?” I asked curiously, leaning in just a little closer.

“I assume you’ll want to live here, in the capital?”

“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “Even in the original timeline, I loved it here. There’s so much to do, so many people… And since it’s a central point for most of the pack lands, it just makes sense. It’s easier to meet with delegations here.”

Alexander nodded thoughtfully. “Good. I feel the same.”

“What duties would you like me to take over as Luna? Is there anything besides the basics?”

“I’d like you to be more involved than is typical,” he admitted. “You’ve got a sharp mind and unconventional ideas that could be incredibly useful. If it’s not too much to ask, I’d like you to join me for the monthly debriefs. I value your input.”

Pride swelled in my chest, and I couldn’t help but smile. “I’d be honored.”

“We could start on Monday,” he offered. “If you’re ready to take on that responsibility so soon.”

“I think we should have a conversation with Diana first,” I said cautiously. “I don’t want her to feel blindsided. She’s already… not the biggest fan of me.”

“It’s not you,” Alexander replied, his voice low and steady. “She wouldn’t be happy with any woman I chose.”

Something about his tone made me pause. It wasn’t frustration or irritation—it was resignation. Pain, maybe. “Can I ask about that?” I said hesitantly.

He looked at me for a long moment, blinking slowly as if processing my question. Then, with a small shrug, he nudged me gently so we sat up straight. “I suppose I do owe you an explanation at this point.”

“An explanation?” I asked, frowning slightly.

“About my past relationship issues,” Alexander said tightly, his jaw working as if the words tasted bitter.

“You mean the reason you were so distant for so long?” My voice was soft, careful not to push too hard.

I’d known there was something buried deep—a kind of romantic trauma that made him feel he couldn’t allow himself to love. But it had always been a sensitive topic, one I hadn’t dared to ask about until now.

His silence was heavy, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he met my gaze with something raw and vulnerable. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “That’s exactly what I mean.”

“Okay,” I said quietly, ready to listen.

Alexander took a deep breath, his gaze locking with mine. “You remember telling me that in the original timeline, there was some kind of scandal involving a beautiful blonde woman?”

“Yes,” I nodded slowly. “I remember mentioning it, though I couldn’t recall the details.”

“That woman… must have been Sabrina.” His voice softened, tinged with sadness. “She was my first serious relationship.” His lips curved into a bittersweet smile. “I thought I’d marry her someday. But things didn’t turn out that way.”

“What happened?” I asked gently.

“Sabrina was Diana’s niece—her brother’s daughter. Since I’m adopted, there wasn’t any blood relation between us. When Diana found out I had a crush on her, she encouraged it. I think she saw it as a way to strengthen her family’s influence within the pack.” His fingers fidgeted with the seam of a cushion, as if grounding himself in the memory. “For a while, things were great. We got along wonderfully, had what felt like a perfect relationship to my younger self. I thought… this is it. This is my future.”

I braced myself, expecting some tragedy—that Sabrina had lost someone or left under circumstances beyond her control.

But Alexander’s eyes darkened as he looked away. “She left in the middle of the night,” he said, voice tight. “No warning. No note. I woke up in our bed alone.”

My heart ached for him. “Why?” I whispered.

“She wasn’t happy with me,” he said bitterly. “Instead of talking to me, she waited until I was sound asleep and left. I found out not long after that she’d been seeing someone else—a man from the north. They’d been seeing each other in secret for a while.” His jaw tensed, the betrayal still fresh in his memory. “Sabrina chose him. They’re married now, and I believe they have a child together.”

I reached for his hand, lacing my fingers through his. “I’m so sorry, Alexander.”

Before he could respond, a frantic knock at the front door shattered the moment. He looked at me apologetically, then stood to answer it.

My thoughts were a tangle as I processed everything he’d just told me. When the door opened, August stood there, his posture rigid with urgency. His eyes darted toward me, and for a brief second, an almost angry look flickered across his face.

“We’ve got trouble in the Roguelands,” August said in a low, clipped voice.

Alexander strode back to me and pressed a swift, reassuring kiss to my forehead. “My life as the Ice King isn’t something I can call off from,” he murmured.

“I understand,” I replied, my voice steady despite the knot tightening in my chest. “Just… come back to me in one piece.”

Amusement tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I promise.”

I watched as he gathered his gear, every movement efficient and practiced. August’s eyes stayed on me the entire time, his gaze sharp with suspicion. Now that I understood why, I couldn’t entirely blame him—Alexander’s secrets were no longer just his, and August wasn’t sure if he could trust me yet.

Maybe, with time, I could earn that trust. But for now, I had Alexander’s—and that was all that mattered.