Melinoe had spent the past day trying to gather information about where she was. As she pieced together details from the townspeople's conversations, a chilling realization struck her—this wasn't the Central Continent at all. The unfamiliar architecture, the flowing Hanfu-style garments, and the distinct accents of the people all pointed to one fact: she was in the Eastern Continent.
Her heart pounded in her chest. How had she ended up here? She had assumed she had only traveled a short distance, but this was an entirely different land, one she knew little about. The thought of being so far from Nyxpanther and Havvaris sent a pang of despair through her. What had happened to them? Were they looking for her? And what about the cubs…?
She clenched her fists, pushing the panic down. No. She couldn't afford to fall apart now. She had to find a way back to the Central Continent, back to Nyxpanther and Havvaris. With renewed determination, she started making plans to travel back.
But there was a problem. She had no resources, no clear path, and no way of traveling such a vast distance alone. Desperation gnawed at her until she overheard whispers of an underground trade market—a place where information, forbidden goods, and illicit services changed hands. If there was any place to find a lead on how to get back, it would be there.
Melinoe's resolve hardened as she made her decision. She would sneak into the underground market and find any possible lead, even if it meant putting herself at risk.
Meanwhile, Xyphor wrestled with his emotions. The flashbacks of his past haunted him—the cold eyes of his mother, the disappointed stares of his fathers, the scornful glares of his brothers. He had been unwanted from the moment he was born, an inconvenience in a family that had expected him to be a beastwoman. That disappointment had followed him all his life, shaping him into the man he was now—one who distrusted others, especially women like Sierra, who only sought power and wealth.
His grip tightened around his cup as he sat in his inn room, recalling their recent conversation.
"You're still hesitating, Xyphor?" Sierra had asked him back then, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "You know what will happen if you don't join us. Our family will never truly accept you. You'll always be alone."
Alone.
He had spat back at her with his usual wit, but deep down, the words had cut deep. His whole life, he had been alone. But now…
His thoughts drifted to Melinoe. She was unlike the others. She had no interest in his wealth or status, nor did she scheme for power. She only wanted to return to her mates—mates who, Xyphor was realizing, she truly loved. The depth of her determination shook him.
When he heard about her plan to infiltrate the underground market, his immediate instinct was to stop her. But instead, he found himself doing something he never expected—he offered to go with her.
"You won't last a second in a place like that alone," he told her, feigning indifference. "Let's go together."
He didn't know why he was helping her. Maybe it was because he was curious. Maybe it was because, deep down, he didn't want to let her go just yet.