Page 14

FOURTEEN

HELENA

H elena’s legs trembled slightly as she and Sol walked up the steps of the castle. The lingering adrenaline from accidentally hurling fire at him still pulsed through her veins. Though her panic had subsided, knowing that he had such control over her flames.

“I still can’t believe I didn’t hurt you,” she murmured, glancing at his perfectly intact form beside her.

Sol guided her through the massive wooden doors, his hand possessively pressed against her lower back. “My Luna could never truly harm me. Our powers are designed to complement each other, not destroy.”

They paused in the grand foyer, its vaulted ceilings and ancient tapestries a constant reminder of how far removed she was from her small house and old life.

“I have some matters to attend to,” Sol said, his eyes softening as they swept over her face. “Deina will bring a phone to your suite as promised. I trust you’ll be comfortable while I’m occupied with...” He paused, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Prince business.”

“Prince business,” Helena repeated. “Right.”

His fingertips brushed her cheek, then he turned and strode away, the confident set of his shoulders and the fluid grace of his movement making her breath catch.

Several minutes and a few wrong turns later, Helena was back in her guest suite. When Deina arrived moments later with a sleek smartphone, Helena gratefully accepted it and walked into the living area away from Deina. Helena sank into the plush armchair and dialed the restaurant’s number. She idly ran her fingers over the armrest as the phone rang.

“Ember & Spice, how can I help you?” Tyanna’s familiar voice sent an unexpected wave of homesickness through Helena.

“Ty? It’s me—Helena.”

“Helena!” The sheer relief in Tyanna’s voice made her stomach clench with guilt. “Oh my god, where are you? Are you okay? Everyone’s been freaking out!”

“I’m fine, I promise.” Helena tucked her legs underneath her, staring out the tall windows at the manicured gardens. “What about the restaurant? I heard it might’ve been completely destroyed.”

“The restaurant’s actually... surprisingly intact. The fire was huge but didn’t do a lot of damage somehow. Strangest thing I’ve ever seen.” Tyanna lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Kitchen needs some repairs, part of the dining room, too, but Victor’s got construction crews coming in tomorrow. He’s determined to stay partially open during the renovations.”

Helena blinked in surprise. “You’re kidding. I thought it would be a total loss.”

“The man moves fast. Guess when you’re that rich, things just happen.”

“He’s still there?” The way that Sol talked about Victor, she thought he was a villain of everything good. But if that were the case, wouldn’t Victor be hiding or at least not showing his face? Maybe Sol exaggerated a little. Or a lot. She could believe that Sol would be more than a little jealous of the attention Victor was giving her.

“Yeah,” Tyanna replied. “He’s the owner. Where else would he be? He’s been asking about you nonstop, though. Where are you anyway?”

Helena bit her lip, turning to glance around the lavish suite with its four-poster bed and ornate furnishings. “I’m... safe. With a friend. I don’t actually know exactly where.” She laughed softly. “It sounds crazy when I say it out loud.”

“A friend? Helena Divata, do you mean to tell me you’re shacked up with some mystery man while we’re all worried sick about you?”

Helena’s heart skipped at Tyanna’s strangely spot-on accusation. Before Helena could respond, she heard movement and muffled words in the background on Tyanna’s end.

“Hold on,” Tyanna said, her voice suddenly distant. “It’s Victor. He wants to talk to you.”

Before Helena could protest, a deep, smooth male voice came through the line. “Helena? Thank goodness you’re all right. We’ve been concerned.”

She straightened in the plush armchair, a flutter of unease washing through her. “Victor? How did everyone know I was missing?”

“When you didn’t return after the fire, and weren’t at the hospital...” He paused. “It doesn’t matter. I know where you are now. You’re at Sol Cadoret’s castle, aren’t you?”

Helena’s breath caught in her throat. “How could you possibly know that?”

“Sol and I have a mutual acquaintance,” Victor explained, his tone casual yet precise. “Small world, isn’t it? When I heard you’d been possibly whisked away by a mysterious man, I made inquiries. I was worried about my executive chef.”

Helena’s fingers tightened on the phone. “That’s... quite thorough for a new boss.”

“Of course, I’d keep tabs on my employees, especially after such a catastrophe,” Victor replied with a warm chuckle. “Besides, you’re the previous owner. I need your expertise for a smooth transition of ownership. Not to mention, you’re the one who knows that kitchen best.”

The explanation made sense, loosening the knot in her stomach. She relaxed back against the cushions.

“The renovations will begin tomorrow,” Victor continued. “But I need your guidance on the kitchen remodel. It’s your domain, after all. I don’t want to make changes you’d hate to work with. It’s important to me that this restaurant does well, Helena. I want you and the entire staff to thrive.”

Helena felt a small swell of pride. Despite everything that had happened, her professional opinion still mattered. This man sounded like he really cared. “I appreciate that. The layout was actually quite efficient, but there were a few things I would have changed if I’d had the budget.”

“Exactly why I need your input. We have the budget now. I want to make it perfect for you to run.”

The way he said it—as though her return was inevitable—made Helena pause. She glanced around the opulent suite, thinking of Sol and his intensity, and his conviction that she belonged here. Yet her restaurant, her career, and her normal life all pulled at her.

“That’s... thoughtful,” she managed. “The hood system always needed upgrading, and the prep counter space was too limited.”

“See? Invaluable information. I knew I couldn’t do this without you.” Victor’s voice took on an edge of excitement. “The sooner we can meet to discuss the plans, the faster we can get Ember & Spice back to full operation.”

She felt torn between two worlds—the familiar comfort of her restaurant and the wild, magnetic pull of Sol and his castle. Her fingers traced the intricate pattern on the armchair, a world away from the stainless-steel counters of her kitchen.

“Are you still there?” Victor asked.

“Yes,” she said, gathering her thoughts. “Thank you for worrying about me. And for caring about getting the restaurant right.”

“If you’re feeling trapped, I could arrange transportation,” Victor said quickly, his voice smooth as silk through the phone. “I’m sure Sol has told you that you can’t leave. That you can’t see your friends anymore. Has he dictated for you to remain at his side for your safety?”

“Yes. How did you know that?” she asked, sitting straighter.

He sighed. “That’s one of the things I argued with Sol about. He thinks everyone is out to get him. That the world is made up of villains.”

That’s exactly what she thought just a minute ago.

Victor continued. “He thinks anyone not under his control is evil, and he’s brainwashed the pack to remain under his thumb. I tried to make him see reason, make him see what he was doing to our people, and he banished me from the pack for it.”

Indignation rose in her. “That’s not fair,” she said.

Victor chuckled. “One thing Sol isn’t, is fair. It’s his way or the highway. His ego is bigger than Texas.”

“Yeah,” she said. “I’ve noticed that.”

“So, anyway, I can send my driver to collect you. It would be no trouble at all. We’ll have you back in time for dinner with His Royal Highness…if that’s what you want.”

Helena gripped the phone tighter. This was her chance to escape back to normalcy. Back to the world of sizzling pans and aromatic spices rather than magical flames and paranoid wolf princes. Her gaze drifted back to the ornate windows where sunlight spilled across the medieval stonework.

A part of her—a frighteningly growing part—wanted to stay. Sol’s intense green eyes suddenly flashed in her thoughts, and the memory of his strong hands on her body sent heat rushing to her cheeks. The way he looked at her made her feel like the center of the universe.

But was that enough reason to abandon her entire life?

She twisted her red hair around her finger, weighing her options. Sol was clearly overprotective, maybe even possessive. His insistence that she belonged here and that she couldn’t return to her old life—it not only irritated her but it threatened her independence. He might be an alpha wolf prince, but she wasn’t some damsel to be ordered around.

“Helena?” Victor prompted. “You still there?”

“Yes,” she answered, her mind finally made up. “I would appreciate that, actually. I need to get back to the restaurant.”

“Excellent. I can have someone there in...” Victor paused briefly. “An hour?”

Helena’s lingering guilt gnawed at her conscience. The restaurant fire—her fire—had endangered everyone’s livelihoods. “I need to make this right,” she murmured, more to herself than Victor.

“What was that?”

“Nothing,” she said quickly. “An hour sounds perfect.”

“Until then.” The line went dead before she could thank him.

Helena lowered the phone and exhaled slowly. She’d made her decision. The practical choice. The responsible choice.

The sound of porcelain clinking made her head snap up. There in the corner stood Deina, arranging a tea service Helena hadn’t noticed before. The woman’s face remained perfectly neutral, but her rigid posture spoke volumes.

Heat crept up Helena’s neck as she realized Deina must have heard everything. She hadn’t left the room at all. The woman’s silent presence made Helena feel like she’d been caught betraying a confidence.

Deina’s eyes, filled with something like disappointment, met Helena’s. “Are you really leaving my lady?” Deina’s soft question cut through the silence.

Helena stared at Deina for a moment. “I won’t be gone that long.” Helena felt bad lying. She smoothed her hands over the soft fabric of her dress. “I’m needed at the restaurant to get it back on its feet. When it’s up and running, then I can spend more time here,” she said, hoping to ease Deina’s concern.

The sunlight filtering through the windows caught the copper highlights in her hair as she stood and paced toward the window. Outside, she could see members of Sol’s pack moving about the grounds, their easy confidence and grace marking them as something other than human. Were they here because they wanted to be or were they forced?

“Deina, do you have friends outside the pack?” Helena asked, pressing her fingertips against the cool glass.

“No,” Deina replied. “There’s no need for me to go out into the world. It’s a cruel place. I’m glad to stay here where it’s safe under the prince’s control.”

She turned to face Deina and nodded. “Of course, you would say that.”

Deina’s shoulders sagged slightly as she placed the silver tray on the side table with exquisite care. When she finally looked up, her eyes held a profound sadness that made Helena’s stomach twist.

“Many packs don’t ever find their Luna, my lady,” Deina said, her voice soft but steady. “But all packs always desire to find her. The Luna brings peace, stability, and power to all of them, including their alpha.”

Helena’s throat tightened as Deina continued.

“The Luna is a sign of future prosperity and good fortune.” Deina’s fingers trembled slightly as she adjusted the delicate china. “Alternately, a Luna leaving signals the opposite.”

Helena wrapped her arms around herself, feeling the weight of Deina’s words sinking into her chest. The woman’s devotion to Sol and the pack was palpable.

“I fear your leaving will be like a curse to all of us,” Deina whispered, meeting Helena’s eyes, “and to our alpha especially.”

The woman had figured out that she was lying about coming back to the castle. A flicker of guilt ignited in Helena’s chest, growing like one of her flames. She never wanted to cause harm to anyone—not Sol, not his people. The responsibility of being this mythical Luna figure felt crushing, pressing in on her from all sides.

“Don’t think that way,” Helena said, though her voice lacked conviction. “Things will work out for your pack, and for Sol, somehow.”

Deina bowed her head slightly and turned to leave the suite. At the doorway, she paused, her hand resting on the ornate handle.

“Thank you for everything, Deina,” Helena called after her, meaning it despite the awkwardness between them.

The door closed with a soft click, leaving Helena alone with her conflicted thoughts and the unsettling feeling that she might be making a terrible mistake.