Chapter 249: Love Letter

Azura’s POV

I woke up slowly, floating out of a deep, dreamless sleep.

The bed beneath me was warm, soft, and familiar. I blinked against the dim morning light, turning my head to look around the high stone walls and heavy velvet drapes.

Rhydor’s chamber. No, that was not right anymore. It was our chamber now. We were sharing it, sharing a life, sharing everything.

I shifted slightly under the heavy covers and turned onto my side, expecting to see his broad chest rising and falling beside me.

The sheets were empty. Cold.

I pulled my brows together, staring at the smoothed-out indent in the pillow. Where was he?

I lay there for a quiet moment, letting the silence of the room settle around me. A sudden realization made me pause. When had I started expecting him to be beside me every time I opened my eyes?

When had I started wanting him there so badly that the sight of an empty pillow made my heart drop just a little bit?

I shook my head, deciding not to overthink it. Some feelings were just better left to grow on their own without being analyzed to death.

I sat up slowly, pulling the sheets back, and immediately winced. My whole body felt stiff and sore. My thighs throbbed with a dull ache, and the fresh double marks on my neck tingled with a lingering, pleasant heat every time I turned my head.

As I swung my legs over the side of the wooden bed, my eyes caught sight of something sitting on the small table next to me. It was a single sheet of clean paper, folded neatly down the middle.

I reached out and picked it up. My fingers unrolled the crisp paper.

Good morning, Pumpkin.

I hope you slept well. I hope you are not feeling too sore.

A deep heat instantly rushed to my cheeks, burning all the way up to the tips of my ears. I buried my face in my hand for a brief second, biting my lip. I was definitely feeling sore, and the man knew it full well.

I smoothed the paper flat against my knee and kept reading his dark, confident handwriting.

I went out to handle some official pack business down near the lower borders. I will be back this evening. Please do not miss me a lot, because I am already missing you.

A soft, foolish smile spread across my face before I could stop it. I shook my head, continuing down to the final lines at the bottom of the page.

Take care of yourself, love.

R.

My heart skipped a full beat right in my chest.

Love.

He had never said that word to me before. Not once. Not since everything had fallen apart between us, and certainly not since we started working so hard to repair the broken pieces of our bond. Seeing it written right there in black ink made a deep, soothing warmth swell inside my chest.

I stared at those four little letters for a long time. I wondered when he would finally say it out loud to my face. I wondered when he would pull me into his arms, look straight into my eyes, and tell me he loved me with his real voice.

I caught myself leaning into the thought and quickly stopped. I did not want to overthink it. I did not want to rush anything or spoil the sweet, precious peace we had just built together inside that lace tent.

I folded the paper carefully and set it back on the side table. Then, I stood up from the bed. The moment my feet hit the cold stone floor, another sharp ache shot through my lower body, making my knees wobble just a little.

"What kind of monster is he?" I muttered under my breath, shaking my head with a chuckle.

I slowly walked over to the washing chamber, a small stone room set off to the side with a large washbasin and a tall pitcher of cold water.

I poured the water out, splashing my face again and again to wake myself up. I scrubbed my skin clean, patted myself dry with a soft cloth, and walked over to the wardrobe to pick out a clean, simple green dress.

I was honestly glad the pack maids were not in the room to help me today. I still was not used to having other people pull clothes over my head or tighten laces behind my back. It always felt strange and unnatural to me. Doing it myself gave me a sense of normal routine that I desperately needed.

Once I was dressed and my hair was brushed out, I unlocked the heavy chamber door and stepped out into the hallway.

The quiet stone corridors were bathed in the early morning sunlight. I walked at a relaxed pace, letting the cool breeze wash over me as I stepped onto one of the high stone balconies overseeing the main courtyard.

I rested my hands on the cool stone railing and looked down. Below, Axel was moving back and forth across the dirt field, training the younger pack warriors.

He moved among them with a sharp, disciplined presence, constantly correcting their footwork, fixing their guard, and barking out loud orders that echoed off the high walls.

I looked around the yard, but Silas was nowhere in sight. He was probably riding out at Rhydor’s side, handling whatever pack business had dragged my mate away from bed so early.

I smiled to myself, feeling a sense of deep peace settling over the pack. I turned away from the railing, intending to make my way down the stairs so I could go outside and watch the training session up close.

As I walked down the long side corridor leading toward the lower grounds, a faint, rhythmic sound caught my attention.

Someone was humming.

It was a soft, familiar melody, swinging up and down in a quiet, comforting pattern. I paused, following the sound as it led me away from the main stairs and out toward the quiet side gardens.

Genevieve was sitting on her favorite carved stone bench right near the blooming rose bushes. She held two long wooden needles in her hands, her fingers moving with practiced, effortless ease as she knitted a long piece of blue wool.

I stepped quietly off the stone pathway and walked closer, settling down on the bench right beside her.

Genevieve paused her hands, looking up in surprise.

"You are awake?"

I offered her a soft, genuine smile.

"Yeah. I am."

She set the blue wool down in her lap and looked at me properly. Her soft eyes swept over my face, and a warm, knowing expression brightened her features.

"Wow," she murmured, her voice filled with gentle affection.

"You are glowing, Azura."

My face instantly flushed hot again. I shifted uncomfortably on the bench, suddenly finding the grass near my shoes very interesting.

"I... I think your son is taking very good care of me," I offered awkwardly, rubbing the back of my neck.

Genevieve leaned forward slightly, her eyes twinkling with pure curiosity.

"How was it?"

I pulled my brows down, looking at her in complete confusion.

"Huh? How was what?"

"The marking," she replied smoothly, not a single trace of hesitation in her voice.

My mouth dropped open, and I felt the blush spread all the way down to my collarbone.

"Can we please not talk about that? It is private! You shouldn’t know anything about it."

Genevieve simply shrugged her shoulders, a playful, amused smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"Oh, okay. If you say so, my dear."

I cleared my throat quickly, eager to change the topic before she could ask anything else. I pointed down at the bright blue fabric sitting in her lap.

"Who is that for?"

Genevieve’s playful smile faded, replaced by a soft, tender look. She ran her fingers gently over the soft yarn.

"It has been a very long time since I knitted something like this," she said quietly, her eyes drifting toward the distance.

"Nicholas used to love the sweaters I made for him when he was just a boy. I was wondering if I could make a bigger one now... just in case he returns home soon."

A bright, genuine smile lit up her face as she spoke her son’s name, her voice thick with motherly love.

"You are so happy to know that," I said warmly, feeling a sweet emotion stir in my own chest.

"Yes," Genevieve said, looking back at me with deep gratitude shining in her eyes.

"I am so happy to know that my son is alive and safe out there. Thank you so much, Azura. Thank you for everything you have done."

I shook my head slightly, looking at her honestly.

"To be frank, I did not even know he was..."

"Whether you knew or not," Genevieve cut me off gently, reaching over to pat my hand with her warm palm, "I believe everything good happened because of you stepping into our lives."

I looked at her kind face and smiled softly.

"Yeah. No problem, Genevieve."

She gave my hand a final squeeze before picking up her wooden needles again, returning to her quiet rhythm.

I sat there for a few more seconds before a thought crossed my mind. I leaned in a little closer, my tone turning cautious.

"I have been wondering if I could go meet Amanda."

Genevieve stopped her knitting once more, nodding her head without hesitation.

"Oh, Amanda? She is resting in my second guest chamber down the hall. She is doing fine."

"When will she be awake?" I asked, my voice filled with hopeful expectation.

Genevieve pressed her lips together, looking somewhat uncertain.

"To be honest with you, I cannot tell for sure. Her body took a heavy toll. But it should be anytime soon now."

I stood up from the stone bench, smoothing down the skirt of my green dress.

"Okay. I will go meet her now."

Genevieve gave me an encouraging nod.

"No problem at all, dear. Go right ahead."

I returned her warm smile and turned around, walking back inside the castle and heading straight down the quiet hall toward Genevieve’s personal quarters.

I opened the heavy wooden door quietly, making sure the hinges did not make a single sound.

The guest room was cool and dim, heavy curtains drawn over the windows to block out the harsh morning sun.

Amanda was lying quietly in the center of a large bed. She looked completely peaceful, her pale face relaxed as thick woolen blankets covered her body up to her chest. Her breathing was steady, her ribs rising and falling softly with every breath she took.

I closed the door behind me and walked over on tiptoe. I pulled a small wooden chair up to the side of the bed and sat down beside her.

"How are you doing, old friend?" I whispered into the quiet room, my voice barely louder than the breeze outside.

She did not stir. She remained motionless, lost deep in her healing sleep.

I reached out my hand, gently brushing a stray strand of pale blonde hair away from her smooth forehead. Looking at her like this, without the stress of war or fear written across her features, she looked so young.

"You are very pretty, I must say," I murmured, a tiny smile touching my lips as I recalled all the chaos we had been through together.

My smile softened into something deeper, more meaningful. I reached down and took her small, cold hand in mine, wrapping my fingers gently around hers.

"I will wait for you, okay?" I said, my voice firm yet full of affection.

"Do not take too long to wake up. You know I cannot wait forever."

I sat there in the quiet room for a few more minutes, just listening to her steady breathing. Then, I let go of her hand and stood up from the chair. I turned toward the door, taking a slow step forward.

I reached out my hand and grabbed the heavy brass handle, turning it down.

Clatter!

A sharp, loud sound echoed from the far corner of the room behind me, like something heavy dropping onto the stone floor.

I froze instantly, my hand still gripping the brass handle. I turned my head around slowly, my eyes sweeping across the dim space until they landed near the edge of the wardrobe.

A pair of bright green eyes met mine in the shadows.