“No,” Diana said softly but firmly, shaking her head. “You don’t understand. You are the Alpha King. You cannot leave your pack indefinitely.”
Inside her mind, Artemis whimpered, pacing restlessly. Mate… ours…
The sound nearly broke her resolve.
Diana pressed her lips together, forcing herself to stay grounded. She wanted him—Moon Goddess, she wanted him—but she couldn’t leave. Not yet. Not when the questions surrounding her parents’ deaths still clawed at her chest. Choosing her mate would mean turning her back on something unfinished, something that whispered to her every time she closed her eyes.
“What do you mean, leave my pack indefinitely?” Talon asked, his brows drawing together in confusion. His voice wasn’t sharp, but there was an edge beneath it—a king unused to uncertainty.
