Orion’s POV

Beautiful…. How can anyone be so beautiful?

That was my last thought when the axe fell on my neck.

The crowd gasped, cheered, jeered, none of it mattered. Pain flared for a moment, sharp and white, then nothing.

And then I woke up at the banquet again.

Same food. Same music. Same damn goblet of wine.

I exhaled slowly, leaning back in my chair. “Already used to it,” I muttered under my breath. Death had lost its edge a long time ago.

Mia sat across from me, her eyes fixed on me like I was the answer to every question clawing through her mind.

“How long?” she asked quietly.

I looked away, fingers drumming against the table. I wasn’t ready to hand her the number, not yet. Not when the truth carried more weight than the chains they loved to bind us in.

Instead, I said, “We need to leave the castle. Tomorrow morning.”

Her brows furrowed. “Leave? How?”

“When they announce us as traitors, they’ll try to chain us.” I leaned closer, lowering my voice so only she could hear. “That’s when we break them and run.”

Her lips parted, incredulous. “Break the chains? Just like that? Do you think you’re strong enough?”

I smirked, finally meeting her eyes. “Princess, I beat every heir they threw at me before I made it to the top. You don’t get to stand in front of Kaiden Silver as a candidate for Alpha King unless you know how to fight and win.”

Her eyes searched mine for doubt and a flicker of hope battling across her face.

For a second, she looked at me differently, not with disdain, not with suspicion, but like maybe, just maybe, she believed me.

The music swelled, laughter spilling through the banquet hall, but for me, the world narrowed to her, the way the torchlight caught in her auburn hair, the defiance trembling at the corner of her lips, the fire that refused to go out even after death.

She doesn’t even know what she does to me.

The next morning, the guards came to my chambers. I took a deep breath and placed my usual idiotic mask on.

The next morning, the guards burst into my chambers, spears scraping against the stone as if they thought I’d actually fight them here and now.

I took a deep breath and slipped on my usual mask—the idiot grin, the lazy stretch, the kind of look that made people think I didn’t take anything seriously. That mask had kept me alive more times than I could count.

“Well, well,” I said, swinging my legs off the bed, “if I knew I’d get a wake-up call like this, I’d have slept shirtless.”

One of them sneered. The other just shoved his spear closer. “Get up. You’re to be judged.”

“Judged?” I stood, stretching my arms wide like I was welcoming them. “Aw, you shouldn’t have. I didn’t even get a chance to comb my curls.”

They clamped irons on my wrists, rough and deliberate, like they enjoyed it. The silver burned against my skin, but I didn’t flinch. I’d felt worse.

As they dragged me through the corridors, my eyes caught on the polished walls, the banners fluttering with Silverfang’s crest, the faces of servants pretending not to watch. Same as every loop. Same as every death.

I smirked at one of the guards. “Careful with the merchandise. Princess Mia will be very upset if you bruise me.”

They ignored me, of course, but I could almost hear Mia’s voice in my head, sharp and impatient. Why are you always joking, Orion? Why can’t you take anything seriously?

Because if I did, I’d break.

We stepped into the courtyard, sunlight spilling across the stone. And there she was, Mia, already standing between two guards, her wrists shackled, her chin tilted high like a queen defying her executioners.

Even now, she was breathtaking. Even in chains. Maybe especially in chains.

“Morning, Princess,” I called as they shoved me forward. “Sleep well?”

Her glare could’ve set fire to the whole palace. But beneath it, I caught the tiniest flicker of fear in her emerald eyes.

And just like that, my grin softened into something real.

Don’t worry. I’ve died enough times for the both of us

The courtyard was a stage, and everyone was here for the show. Elders lined their seats like bloated kings, warriors stood at attention with spears, and a sea of wolves filled the steps to watch the spectacle.

At the center stood Lucien. White hair, sharp smile, arms folded like he already owned the world. His blue eyes locked on Mia first, then me, lingering like he was savoring this moment.

The herald’s voice boomed, too loud, too practiced. “Orion Vale of the Silverfang Pack, and Mia Esbond of the Rogue Pack, you stand accused of high treason. By decree of the High Council, you are hereby branded traitors—”

I stopped listening. Same words, same verdict, every loop. What mattered was the chains.

The guards stepped in, silver glinting in the sunlight. I caught Mia’s eyes—emerald fire, steady and proud. Even now, she was more queen than anyone else here.

Lucien tilted his head, watching her like a cat watches a bird. “Don’t look so tense, sister-in-law. It’ll all be over quickly.”

My jaw clenched. Smug bastard.

The cold bite of silver brushed my wrists. My muscles tensed.

“Now,” I hissed.

The instant the shackle clicked, I pulled. Metal snapped, shards flying. The guard cried out, stumbling back.

Gasps erupted across the courtyard.

Mia didn’t wait. She drove her elbow into her captor’s jaw, ripping his blade from his belt in one swift motion. The steel sang as she swung it, forcing two others back.

Lucien didn’t flinch. He just smiled wider. “Interesting…”

“Beautiful and violent,” I muttered, my grin slipping out despite the chaos. “Perfect combination.”

“Shut up and move!” Mia barked, shoving me toward the open path.

The crowd broke into shouts. Guards lunged. Wolves shifted, teeth bared.

Lucien raised a hand, and for a heartbeat, the chaos froze. His voice carried, smooth and commanding. “Alive. Bring them back alive.”

His eyes cut to me, glinting. “Especially him.”

I spat on the ground, smirking. “Careful what you wish for, pretty boy.”

Then Mia grabbed my arm, and we ran.