Freya had been sitting with Samantha, her laughter soft and unguarded, when the door opened. A maid stepped in, her head lowered in deference.

“The Alpha demands to see you,” she said, almost careful not to offend her.

The words landed heavily. Freya’s chest tightened, and the quiet moment she’d been sharing shattered. For days now, she had managed to avoid Logan. They hadn’t spoken since that night on the balcony, when his silence had carried more weight than any words ...