Chapter 123: Before I am your subject

It had been a month since Thorne had left for the border, and the knot of anxiety growing in Noelle's chest had only tightened with each passing day. Thorne should be back by now, he thought, his heart heavy with the weight of uncertainty. Every morning when he awoke, his body instinctively reached for the warmth of his Alpha beside him, only to be met with cold sheets and the stark reminder of his absence. It gnawed at him, that hollow emptiness that only Thorne could fill.

Noelle sat in the greenhouse, the familiar scent of earth and greenery usually soothing him, but today it offered little comfort. The warmth of the sun filtering through the glass panes felt oppressive rather than gentle. He missed Thorne. Missed his strong, steady presence, the way his arms would wrap around him, making everything in the world feel right, if only for a moment. His absence was a constant ache, a whispering reminder that Noelle was alone.