The next morning, Adrian woke up with one thought: if poison fails, there are other ways. He moved through the palace with purpose, ignoring the whispers. Guards followed him at a distance. When he reached the highest balcony that overlooked the gardens and the stone courtyard far below, he stepped onto the edge.
The wind moved his hair, and the drop below was long enough. "If this body breaks," he whispered, "maybe I will wake up in Seoul."
He closed his eyes and leaned forward. Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed him from behind. "Your Majesty!" a guard shouted.
They pulled him back just as his foot slipped.
He struggled. "Let me go!"
More guards rushed in, they dragged him to the ground. His shoulder hit the stone hard.
Before he could stand, Vaelor stepped in front of him, and without warning, Vaelor's fist struck his face. Pain exploded in Adrian's head.
"Have you lost all sense?" Vaelor snapped. "Do you want to keep showing the whole kingdom that their king is mad?"
Adrian's tongue tasted blood. He looked up at his brother with burning eyes. "Yes! Maybe if they think I'm crazy, they'll send me back."
Vaelor leaned close. "I don't care about what is going through your head right now! You need to respect the throne and keep yourself quiet."
"Get him inside," Vaelor ordered. "Now! And make sure he doesn't do anything stupid again." The guards helped Adrian to his feet and led him back inside. Servants stared as they passed.
Inside his chamber, Adrian curled on his side, then pain blooming everywhere, not just his jaw, but deep inside, like something was trying to rip its way out. His bones ached, his skin burned, and his teeth felt too big for his mouth.
He screamed. "Help! Take me to the clinic! Something's wrong!"
From deep within his bones. Adrian doubled over, his skin felt too tight, muscles pulled and twisted, his heat spread through him like fire.
The guards looked confused. "Clinic? What's that?"
He screamed as his fingers curled painfully, his vision blurred.
"Call someone!" a guard yelled.
Word spread fast, and made Lady Arin rush into the chamber without waiting for permission. Her face was pale. "Caelan, stop fighting it!"
"Wh-at is… happening?" he gasped between waves.
"You're about to shift, it's coming. You've done this before, many times."
"Shift?" He laughed, then cried out as another spasm hit. "Ahhh!"
Arin glanced at the guards. "Leave us." They hesitated. "Now!" then they backed out.
Arin stepped closer. "You are transforming."
"Transforming? Into what?" he shouted.
Arin took a deep breath. "Watch me, don't be afraid."
She stepped back and closed her eyes. Her body began to change, bones shifted, and her form lowered. Fur burst from her skin, rippled across her arms. Her face stretched, bones cracking. In seconds, a large gray wolf stood where she had been with golden eyes, ears forward, tail low.
Adrian stared in horror, as he let out a broken cry and collapsed. Guards shouted in fear. Some stepped back, and others fell to their knees.
The door flew open. Queen Elowen entered, her face white with shock. When she saw the wolf, her eyes burned with rage.
"Arin!" she shouted. "How dare you! Have you forgotten the law?"
The wolf shifted back into human form, breathing hard. "He was in pain, your Majesty. He did not understand what was happening to him. I thought..."
"You thought?" Elowen's voice rose. "It is forbidden for a crown queen to transform before the court!" Elowen snapped. "If the Alphas hear of this—"
"I was trying to help him!" Arin cried.
"If anything happens to my son again," Elowen said in a low, dangerous voice, "you will regret it."
Adrian lay unconscious on the floor, his body still shaking slightly. Outside, whispers moved through the palace like wind, about how the king had tried to kill himself, then was struck by his brother, and also the crown queen who had turned into a wolf before witnesses.
And in the back of his mind, one clear thought cut through the haze. If this body could turn into a wolf… then maybe he really wasn't going back home again.
Far away in Seoul, the morning sun rose over tall buildings and busy streets.
Kate stepped out of a black car in front of Kingston Group headquarters. She wore a fitted black dress and high heels. Her makeup was heavy, her lips painted deep red, and her eyes sharp and bright. Not a single tear showed on her face.
Workers standing near the entrance froze when they saw her. "Isn't her husband still in the hospital?"
"She looks like she's going to a party."
"She should be mourning, not showing off."
Whispers followed her as she walked through the glass doors. Her back stayed straight with an expression that did not change. Inside the elevator, she looked at her reflection in the mirror. For a second, her eyes softened, then the doors opened.
The boardroom was already full. Men and women in expensive suits sat around a long table. Some were shareholders, others were directors. All of them looked tense.
When Kate entered, every head turned. One of the older board members stood up. "Mrs. Kingston, we were just discussing temporary leadership until your husband recovers."
Kate walked to the head of the table and placed her handbag down calmly.
"There is nothing to discuss in my absence," she said. "From today, I will act as CEO of Kingston Group."
Silence spread like a virus among them. A younger director blinked. "With respect, ma'am, the company bylaws—"
"Allow the spouse to take executive control in case of a medical emergency," she finished smoothly. "I have already reviewed them."
Another shareholder cleared his throat. "This is sudden."
"Who cares," Kate replied, her voice steady. "The market is unstable and investors are relying on us and if we look weak, our competitors will attack."
She turned on the screen behind her and clicked a remote. Charts appeared. "See, our stock dropped five percent yesterday. That ends today!"
A man near the end of the table leaned back. "I understand the state of the company, but what if some of us disagree?"
Kate looked at him directly. "Anyone who is not satisfied may pull their shares and leave. I will personally buy them."
Murmurs filled the room, yet no one moved. She gave a small nod. "Good, then let us begin."
For the next hour, she spoke clearly and confidently, and answered every question without hesitation. Her tone never rose, neither did her smile faltered.
By the time the meeting ended, even the doubters were nodding. As the board members filed out, one woman whispered to another, "She's stronger than I thought."
Kate gathered her papers slowly. When she was alone, she allowed herself one deep breath. "Hold on, Adrian," she whispered. "I will make sure I protect everything."
That evening, at her large home overlooking the Han River, Kate removed her heels and sat on the couch. The house felt too quiet without him.
A knock came at the door. Her assistant entered nervously. "Two detectives are here to see you."
Kate's expression sharpened. "Send them in."
Two investigators stepped into the living room. One was middle-aged with tired eyes, the other was younger, holding a file.
"Mrs. Kingston," the older detective said politely. "We have new information regarding the sniper."
Kate folded her hands in her lap. "Please sit."
But they remained standing. The younger detective opened the file and placed a photo on the table. It showed a grainy image from CCTV of Kate standing near the entrance of a charity gala weeks ago. A man stood beside her, as they appeared to be talking.
"We traced the sniper's weapon purchase through several accounts," the older detective explained. "One of the names connects to this man. CCTV shows you speaking with him."