Ace's POV
The warm water cascaded over us as I stood motionless, lost in thought. Since bringing Ovelia on this mission, every shared moment had revealed new layers to her—her quiet strength when facing danger, her genuine joy in simple pleasures, the way her nose crinkled when she laughed. A strange warmth bloomed in my chest whenever I caught her smiling at something I said.
My fingers absently traced the soap suds running down my arm. The memory surfaced again—that day in the woods when my wolf had recognized infant Ovelia as my mate. Had I ever truly loved Eliana? Or had I simply been chasing the ghost of that destined connection, mistaking familiarity for real affection?
The more time I spent with Ovelia, the more my feelings for Eliana blurred at the edges, like ink spreading on damp parchment. Did I even understand what love was supposed to feel like?
