**Ethan's POV**

I paced impatiently across the palace halls, anxiety gnawing at me as I waited for my Beta to return with news. Deep down, I desperately hoped for good news. Something that could lift the heavy cloud hanging over my head, something to reignite the flicker of hope I clung to. Regret weighed on me heavily, my past decisions haunting me n

I muttered under my breath, "How foolish I was."

I couldn't help but question whether I should have gone along with my Beta, or perhaps done ...