Full of fire is my love for you

POV Laudis-

The moon hung high above the sprawling palace gardens, casting silvery shadows over the marble terraces and lush greenery. Laudis stood alone near the edge of the koi pond, his gaze fixed on the shimmering water, lost in thought. The air was thick with the scent of jasmine and night-blooming flowers, yet his mind was elsewhere—torn between duty and desire.

He had known Ryan—the mighty Alpha King—for years. Their bond was forged in the fires of diplomacy and royal obligations, but beneath the veneer of loyalty, Laudis’s heart fluttered with a different kind of emotion—love. Ryan was everything a king should be: commanding, fierce, and regal. Yet, Laudis saw in him a tenderness that few dared to glimpse, a vulnerability hidden beneath the crown.

Tonight, Laudis had come to the palace gardens to escape the weight of his responsibilities. His thoughts drifted back to moments stolen in quiet corners with Ryan—glances exchanged in secret, subtle touches that lingered just a little longer than necessary. He loved Ryan, truly and deeply, but a shadow of doubt haunted him: could he compete with the memory of another?

As he gazed into the water, memories surfaced—images of Dasy, the fiery dancer whose spirit had captivated him from the moment they met. Her luminous presence, her carefree laughter, her unwavering passion for her art—they all haunted his mind. Despite his love for Ryan, a part of him still longed for Dasy’s wild freedom, her innate authenticity that no royal duty could tame.

A gentle rustling behind him broke his reverie. Turning, Laudis saw Ryan approaching, his regal form illuminated by the moonlight. The king’s eyes, a piercing blue, softened as he drew near.

“Ladis,” Ryan’s voice was gentle, almost a whisper. “You’ve been so distant tonight.”

Laudis hesitated, then stepped closer. “Your Majesty, I—” he began, but Ryan silenced him with a tender finger on his lips.

“Come,” Ryan beckoned, leading him to a secluded alcove shaded by flowering vines. “Tell me what’s on your mind.”

Laudis took a deep breath, struggling to find the words. “It’s you, Ryan. I love you—more than words can say. But there’s... something I cannot forget. Dasy.” His voice trembled with the truth. “Her spirit, her passion—she’s always in my thoughts.”

Ryan’s expression shifted, a flicker of pain crossing his features. “Dasy is a remarkable soul,” he said softly. “But she’s free—untamed—and I respect that about her. I want you to be happy, Laudis. You deserve that.”

“But do I?” Laudis looked away, shadows dancing in his eyes. “Part of me feels torn. I am bound to you, yet a part of me still longs for the wildness she embodies. It’s as if a piece of my soul is still with her, dancing in the forest, lost in her dance.”

Ryan reached out, cupping Laudis’s face gently. “Your heart is complicated,” he murmured. “Love isn’t always simple. I love you, Laudis. And I know Dasy’s fire burns brightly. But remember, my love, you are my alpha. My strength. My destiny.”

Laudis closed his eyes, leaning into Ryan’s touch. “I want to be yours completely,” he whispered. “But I cannot deny that a part of me still beats for her—the dancer, the free spirit I met by the pond that night.”

Ryan’s gaze was steady, unwavering. “Then I will accept that part of you,” he said softly. “Because true love doesn’t demand perfection. It accepts, it endures, and it grows. And maybe, someday, you’ll find a way for all of your pieces to dance together.”

A gentle smile touched Laudis’s lips as he looked into Ryan’s eyes. Despite the ache of longing for Dasy, he felt the warmth of Ryan’s love wrapping around him—a love fierce enough to hold all his fragments.

And so, beneath the endless night, Laudis made a silent vow: to cherish the love he had, to honor the wild spirit within, and to let his heart dance freely, wherever it may lead.

POV - Alpha King

Three years later.

I greeted Abraham with a hug. "This is a nice place you have here," I complimented my old college friend. "If I didn't hate the city so much, I'd come here more often!"

Abraham laughed and we sat down in two arm chairs next to an unlit fireplace at one end of the cafe. Spring was moving into summer and we certainly didn't need the heat right now. "You do realize this is a chain, now, right? And I do have a Cafe Om out there in Norville." He waved over a waiter. Or whatever they called them at these coffee places. A server.

I squinted my eyes as I tried to think where it might be. Had I seen a new cafe going up? "Surely you're just poking at me. Where is it?"

"Right on Main, two streets past your clinic. If you stepped outside for more than work or Chloe, you would have seen it."

That was...I wanted to say ridiculous, but Abraham had a point. If something didn't involve my veterinary practice or my daughter Chloe, I was a little out of it. "No shit. How long has it been there?"

"About a year," he said, not bothering to hide his amusement. The server reached us and we placed our orders.

I shook my head. "Okay, hit me. What else have I missed out on?" "You realize my brother-in-law got hitched, right?"

We lost ourselves in the news of our friends and family. Abraham and I had roomed on the same floor in college. From the outside, we had little in common. I was a biology major, aiming for veterinary school, he was a business major with a million ideas on how to turn a buck. But we'd both

participated on the debate team, and though we often as not held the same personal values, we preferred practicing against each other. No one else quite matched our depth and intensity. I took first and he took second in our regional competition, but when we reached nationals, we both placed in the middle of the pack, though he ranked higher than I did. And he never let me forget it.

"So what does bring you into town?"

I sighed. I couldn't really afford the time away from my practice. I had a couple vet techs who worked with me, but I was the only full veterinarian. At the same time, I couldn't afford not to take this trip. "I'm looking for a manny," I said. I had specified male on my applications. I had no interest in looking at anyone who might seem like a replacement for Jen in any way, shape, or form. But at this point in my search, I was really going to have to take what I could get. "My neighbor, Helen, has been looking after Chloe since, well, since. But she's moving to Florida next month to be near her daughter and grandchildren. Selfishly, I want her to stay. She's become family. But I understand. Blood is blood."