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Nothing.

No text. No callback. Just silence.

I pressed redial and held the phone to my ear.

It rang.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Then… voicemail.

I lowered the phone slowly.

Panic sat heavy in my stomach as I stared at the phone screen like it would suddenly change its mind and ring.

“He didn’t answer?” Zach asked from the edge of the bed.

I shook my head, swallowing hard. “Not..even.. once.”

Emery leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his face equally worried tight. “It’s been hours. He’s never gone this long without checking in.”

“I know,” I said.

Something in my chest twisted. My instincts were screaming. It wasn’t normal. Noah always answered—especially my calls.

Something was wrong.

I stood. My voice came out sharper than I meant. “I need to go back.”

Zach stepped in front of me. “What? Aegis—”

“I have to,” I snapped. “He’s in danger.”

“You don’t know that for sure.”

I turned to Emery. “You saw the files. You saw what they do. Noah is the last piece. And now I can’t reach him? You think this is a coincidence?”

They exchanged glances.

“I’m going,” I said, grabbing my bag.

“We’re supposed to leave with the King in less than thirty minutes,” Zach reminded me.

“Then I’ll tell him I’m not going.”

“You’re serious?” Emery asked.

I nodded. “Dead serious.”

We stormied out together, walking fast through the dark corridors. The night was cold, and the moon was high, casting pale light over everything. The King was outside, near the cars, speaking to Jaxon in a low voice. He doesn't look happy.

Jaxon nodded, his arms crossed. “I’ll hold things down here. But you have to be back before the Summons.”

“I will,” the King said. “And if I’m not, don’t wait.”

I stepped into the light. “Your Majesty, I need to speak with you.”

He turned to me. His eyes softened for a second. “Yes,Aegis?”

“I can’t come with you tonight.”

His face fell. “What?”

I took a breath. “I need to go back to my pack. It’s urgent.”

He moved toward me. “What happened?”

“I can’t reach Noah. I’ve tried several times. It’s not normal.”

The softness disappeared.

His jaw clenched. “So… that’s what this is about?”

“What?”

“You’re running off because of him?”

I stared at him, confused. “Relax, your Highness. I’m not fleeing the kingdom. I’m just checking if my Beta is still alive.This isn’t about—”

He stepped closer. “I asked you to stay. You said no. And now you want to leave me standing here so you can go back to him? You're choosing him?"

My chest tightened. “You’re twisting this.”

“No, Aegis,” he growled, “you made your choice. Don’t act like it’s not clear.”

“You’re being ridiculous,” I snapped. “I’m not choosing anyone. I’m trying to protect my Beta.”

He laughed, bitter. “Is that what he is to you?”

I stepped forward. “Don’t do this.”

“YOU CANNOT LEAVE AEGIS.”

“I have to.”

“Then I’ll make it simple.” He straightened. “If you leave, you'll be charged with treason.”

The words hit like ice water. I blinked. “What?”

“You’re forgetting one crucial thing. I am still the King and I control everything and everyone. If you leave now, you’re turning your back on a direct mission. And that qualifies as desertion.”

I felt Zach and Emery tense behind me.

My hands balled into fists. “You really gonna charge me with treason because I care about someone who’s not you? That’s cute. Toxic, but cute.”

“If that’s what it takes to make you stay.”

Everything inside me boiled.

“Then I quit,” I hissed. “I resign. You can keep your war and your title. I’d rather take my chances with bloodthirsty rogues than emotionally constipated royalty."

I turned to walk.

“Wait,” Emery whispered. “Aegis—think.”

Zach stepped in front of me. “You’ll lose everything. Don’t do this.”

“I’m not letting him threaten me.”

“We’ll call again. We’ll keep trying,” Zach pleaded. “We’ll figure out a way to reach Noah.”

“He could be dead by the time we do,” I said through my teeth.

"Or you could be by the time we reach him."

“Noah could just be out of range,” Emery said. “Don’t make the King your enemy over something that might not even be happening.”

I looked back at the King. He stood still, cold, but something flickered in his eyes.

I hate him. I hate how he makes me feel.

But worse… a small part of me liked that he didn’t want me to go. That he cared. That part of me disgusts me.

I exhaled, long and slow. “Fine.”

The three of us walked toward the cars in silence.

The car was too clean. Too quiet. The seats were soft leather and the roof too low. Emery sat in front. Zach beside me. The King was across from me, sulking, arms folded, face turned toward the window.

Childish mutt.

I stared out mine.

“Raise your hand if you’ve ever been personally victimized by His Royal Emotional Damage.”

No one spoke.

The silence was louder than yelling.

My arms crossed. His did too. A stupid mirror of stubbornness.

I hate this.

I hate that his royal assholeness can still make me feel seen and small in the same breath. I hate that a part of me wants him to care. And I strongly despise that he did.

Because if he didn’t… he would’ve let me go.

I bit the inside of my cheek.

I don’t want to feel like this.

The driver cleared his throat.

“We’re nearing Alpha Stephan’s pack.”

I nodded stiffly.

Just as I turned to look at the road—

CRASH!

A long, silver blade shot through my window like lightning.

It would’ve gone through my neck.

But the King moved fast.

He grabbed me, pulled me across the seat, across his laps, shielding me with his body.

Every part of me aligned with his. Something poked me through my dress.

Glass shattered everywhere.

Emery yelled. Zach ducked.

The car skidded.

“Assassins!” the driver shouted.

The King’s arm was tight around me. “Don’t move.”

“I wasn’t planning on it,” I breathed out.

My heart pounded.

The blade was still there.

Lodged in the door.

Exactly where my head had been.

The King’s chest rose and fell against mine.

The flickering colors of his eyes met mine for a second.

He looked like he was about to kill.