ZARIA'S POV 
The messenger’s words felt like a physical blow to the room. The sudden silence in the art gallery vanished, replaced by an instant wave of high-alert panic. The guards by the doors didn't even wait for a command; their hands dropped straight to the hilts of their swords.
Cassian stood perfectly still for a second, his dark hair falling into his face. I could feel the exact moment his energy shifted from a protective mate back to a ruthless king. The fur on his jaw disappeared completely, and his long claws slid back under his skin, but his expression stayed cold.
He turned to his lead commander, his voice dropping into a dangerous, quiet rumble that made everyone freeze. "Lock down the entire inner perimeter right now," he ordered. "I want the archers on the walls. I want them armed and ready to fire on my mark."
The commander nodded quickly, his heavy armor rattling as he listened.
"And do not let Garrick or his men set a single foot inside my private palace," Cassian added, his golden eyes flashing with a dangerous light. "Keep his entire group detained out at the pavilion. Let them sit in the cold until I decide to deal with them."
The commander bowed deeply and turned to run out the door, yelling for his men to follow. Within seconds, the entire estate was thrown into a state of chaos.
From deep within the palace towers, the heavy iron bells started to ring. It was a deep, hollow sound that echoed all through the stone walls. The rhythmic warning let everyone know the valley gates had been breached. It made the situation feel incredibly real, and my heart started beating fast against my ribs again.
Cassian turned back to me, his large hands coming down onto my shoulders. His grip was warm and solid, but his face was tight with worry. "You need to go to the safe room down in the tunnels," he said, leaving no room for an argument. "My personal guards are going to take you right now."
I looked up at him, my fingers still wrapped around the handle of my dagger. The paralyzing fear that used to take over my mind wasn't there anymore. The adrenaline from the attack was still humming through my veins, making my mind feel sharper and colder than before.
"No," I said, shaking my head. "I am not hiding in a dark room like a frightened animal, Cassian. I am done running from him."
Cassian frowned, his golden eyes narrowing in pure alpha frustration. "Zaria, look around you. Someone just tried to kill you in this room a few minutes ago. I am not risking your life by letting you stand out in the open while a hostile pack is at the gates."
"I'm not asking to stand out in the open," I said, stepping closer into his space so he could see I wasn't backing down an inch. "But I am not going to hide in a hole. I just need to see why he's here."
We stared at each other for what felt like forever. I could feel the heavy weight of his alpha power pressing down on the room, trying to make me submit. It was a heavy, invisible force, but I held his gaze anyway. I planted my boots firmly on the stone floor.
Finally, Cassian let out a loud, frustrated sigh and rubbed his face. "Fine," he growled, the word cutting through the air. "But you are not going down to that pavilion. There is a hidden balcony right above the outer gates. You will go there, stay in the shadows, and take four guards with you."
"Deal," I said immediately.
He didn't waste another second. He waved over four of his strongest soldiers to watch my back, then turned and walked out of the gallery with huge, angry strides. His black cape flew out behind him like a storm cloud, and his heavy boots sounded like thunder in the hallway.
My guards quickly led me away from the mess in the gallery, guiding me toward a narrow staircase hidden behind an old tapestry. The air got freezing cold as we climbed higher into the stone tower. Through the small windows we passed, I could see the courtyards below turning into a complete war zone.
Soldiers were running to the walls with torches, and the heavy iron gates were being slammed shut. The whole palace was locking down to protect itself, transforming from a luxury banquet hall into an impenetrable fortress within minutes.
We finally reached the top of the stairs, and the lead guard pushed open a heavy wooden door. It led out onto a small stone ledge hidden behind massive pillars and statues. I stepped out into the freezing wind, which immediately blew my dark hair into my face and tugged at the torn silk of my dress.
I completely ignored the bitter chill. I pressed my hands flat against the rough stone railing and looked straight down at the outer gates.
Below me, the entire pavilion was lit up by the harsh glare of massive bonfires. A long line of northern soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder across the cobblestones, their silver shields locked together to make a solid wall of metal. Their long spears were pointed straight at the entrance, ready for a fight.
Then, the heavy outer gates creaked open with a loud, scraping sound, and the Bloodmoon group came riding into the open courtyard.
Garrick had brought an entire army with him. Their dark armor looked menacing in the firelight, and they moved with a nervous, angry energy. Their hands were resting heavily on their weapons, looking around like they expected an ambush.
At the very front of the line, riding a massive black horse that was foaming at the mouth from a brutal pace, was the man who had broken my life into pieces.
I leaned closer to the stone edge, my breath catching in my throat as I looked at Garrick for the first time in weeks. My hands gripped the railing so hard my knuckles turned completely white. I expected to feel terrified, or maybe so angry I wanted to scream, but all I felt was total shock.
This wasn't the proud, arrogant Alpha who used to look at me like I was dirt. This wasn't the perfect, handsome man I used to beg for scraps of attention from.
Garrick looked like a complete mess. Even from all the way up here, the bright firelight showed how hollow and thin his face had become. His skin was a sickly, pale gray color, and he had dark, heavy bags under his eyes like he hadn't slept in a month.
His broad shoulders were slumped forward, and all the confidence that used to make him seem untouchable was completely drained from his body. He looked exhausted, broken, and filled with a wild desperation that made him look like a cornered animal. He kept staring up at the dark palace walls, his eyes wide and bloodshot, frantically searching through the windows. He looked like his entire life depended on finding me.