“It’s a challenge for royal males to control their wolves,” Jorlan explains, his voice calm as he gently rocks us in the hammock. His long legs touch the ground, providing a steady, comforting rhythm. “I knew I would hurt you the first time, but I didn’t realize it would be so severe.”

I struggle to find the right words. “Okay,” I mutter, unsure of how else to respond. What happened wasn’t okay, and moving past it won’t come easily. Even now, some part of me ...