Josie
I stood outside his door, clutching the folded clothes against my chest, my pulse hammering so loudly that it drowned out my thoughts. I had rehearsed what I wanted to say a hundred times in my head, yet now that I was here, the words felt useless—like broken glass that would only cut us both.
I took a slow breath and knocked.
The two guards stationed at the door turned to me almost instantly. Their eyes were impassive, their stance rigid. "Alpha's orders," one said before I even spoke. "No visitors."
I swallowed hard. "I just need to talk to him. Please."
"The Alpha said he doesn't want to see anyone, my lady."
I frowned, trying to steady my voice. "I'm not anyone, I'm his mate."
That earned me a flicker of discomfort in their expressions, but still they didn't move.
"I really need to talk to him," I repeated, my voice trembling more than I wanted it to. "Things aren't what they seem. He misunderstood, and I can't let him spiral again."
