Tent promise

King Cole’s POV

I nodded, though my patience was wearing thin. “Good. And make sure Anna continues her observations. I don’t care how small the details—if Greg so much as breathes wrong, I want to know about it.”

Raxon hesitated, sensing my growing paranoia. “Your Majesty, I must caution you. Focusing so much on Prince Greg could be… distracting. There are other matters that require your attention. The packs are restless, and there are murmurs of rebellion among the rogues.”

I waved a dismissive hand as I didn’t care of his fears. “The packs will fall in line, as they always do. But Greg is different. He’s unpredictable. A threat that’s closer than any rogue or rival alpha. Until I know exactly what he’s planning, I won’t rest.”

Raxon nodded, though he still harbored doubts. “Very well. But be careful, my king. Paranoia is a powerful thing. It can blind even the strongest of us.”

I said nothing in response, but Raxon’s words lingered in my mind long after the elder had left.

I returned to the window, staring out into the darkening forest, where shadows moved between the trees and secrets lay hidden in every corner. My mistrust of Greg was a poison, seeping into every thought, every decision. But I could not shake the feeling that he was up to something, and until I had proof, I would keep digging.


***

Prince Greg’s POV

I led Anna through the dense woods, the shadows of the towering trees stretching long and dark under the fading sunlight.

My steps were quiet, deliberate, as we navigated through the thick underbrush.

The secluded area I was taking her to was a place I rarely shared with anyone—a hidden sanctuary I had built for myself in the past, a place where I could retreat from the weight of the world and the prying eyes of my brother, King Cole.

We reached the small clearing, and there it was: a modest tent I had pitched years ago, hidden away from the paths frequented by the pack.

The painting was weathered but the structure was still pretty much sturdy, camouflaged among the ferns and moss that surrounded it.

The space was simple but comforting, a reminder of the freedom I often craved away from the palace’s stone walls and suffocating expectations. Here, I wasn’t just the prince or the half-breed sorcerer—here, I was just Greg.

Anna followed me inside, and the moment we were enveloped by the dark, intimate space, the tension that had been simmering between us exploded.

We crashed into each other, our lips meeting in a wild, desperate kiss.

It was a frantic, fiery connection, driven by days of suppressed emotions and the danger that constantly hung over us.

She was a spy—a snow fox sent to watch my every move and report back to my brother—but she was also something more. She was the one person who saw beyond the titles, beyond the powers, and beyond the tangled web of lies that surrounded us.

We kissed like mad, our hands tangled in each other’s hair, our breaths mingling in heated gasps.

The taste of her lips was intoxicating, and the warmth of her body against mine made the world outside this tent feel distant and irrelevant.

She was everything forbidden, and yet, in this stolen moment, she felt like the only thing that made sense. I knew the risks we were taking, the crazy line we were walking. I was the wolf, the one she was meant to spy on, and she was the fox, the one sent to deceive me and act like my guard and assistant. But somewhere along the way, we had crossed lines that could never be uncrossed.

I pulled back for a moment, resting my forehead against hers, our breaths heavy in the confined space. Her silver hair, usually tied up in a tight braid, was loose and wild, cascading around her face. Her blue eyes, always sharp and observant, now held a softness that I had never seen before.

“Greg,” she whispered, her voice tinged with a mix of fear and desire. “What are we doing?”

I smirked, brushing a thumb across her cheek. “What we shouldn’t be doing. But it feels good, doesn’t it?”

She bit her lip, struggling between her duty and the pull between us. “It feels… dangerous.”

“Everything worth doing is,” I replied, leaning in for another kiss, but the sound of rustling leaves outside stopped me cold.

We froze, our instincts kicking in as we crouched low, peering through a small opening in the tent’s flap. Shadows moved between the trees—figures, dark and silent, combing through the woods with a purpose.

My eyes narrowed as I recognized the dark-clad men moving stealthily through the forest. These were not ordinary scouts or hunters. They were members of my brother’s personal guard—elite soldiers, skilled in tracking and surveillance. I felt my blood run cold with realization: Cole had sent them to find me.

Anna’s grip tightened on my arm, her breath hitching in her throat. “They’re looking for you,” she whispered, fear flashing in her eyes.

“Of course they are,” I muttered, watching as the guards spread out, searching the area meticulously. “Cole’s getting paranoid. He knows I was out here, and now he’s sniffing around like a hound on a scent.”

Anna glanced at me, worry etched on her face. “We can’t stay here if they find us. If they find you and I together…”

“We won’t be found,” I assured her, though my voice was tinged with more confidence than I truly felt. “We just have to wait them out. This tent is hidden well; they won’t find it unless they practically trip over it.”

We remained silent, our breathing barely audible as we watched the guards pass by, their eyes scanning the forest floor for any sign of my presence.

They moved efficiently, disciplined and relentless in their task. My heart pounded in my chest, not from fear, but from anger—anger at Cole for sending them, anger at myself for being hunted like some kind of criminal. This was my sanctuary, my escape, and now even that felt violated.

Minutes felt like hours as we waited for the guards to move on, each second filled with the tension of being discovered.

Finally, the last of them disappeared into the trees, their search moving farther away from our hidden spot. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, and Anna sagged against me, relief washing over her.

“We’re safe,” I said, though the word felt hollow. Safe was a fleeting concept in my life now.

Anna looked up at me, her expression a mix of concern and something deeper. “Greg, how long can we keep this up? If Cole finds out about us, if he knows I’m not just spying on you but that we’re—”

“Together?” I finished for her, my voice steady. “Then he’ll have a fit. But let him. He’s already paranoid. What’s one more thing to set him off?”

She shook her head, her eyes searching mine. “This isn’t just about us, Greg. Your brother… he’s ruthless. He won’t just punish you. He’ll punish anyone close to you. And I’m…” She hesitated, her voice breaking. “I’m just a spy. Disposable. If he finds out, I’ll be executed without a second thought.”

I cupped her face, forcing her to look at me. “You’re not just a spy, Anna. Not to me. You’re more than that. And if Cole comes after you, he’ll have to go through me first.”

She swallowed hard, tears glistening in her eyes. “You’d stand against your own brother for me?”