Novel's POV

After the Full Moon ceremony ended, I was led back to the room where I had waited earlier. My head was spinning, I would have fainted right there in the woods if Alexei hadn't been by my side. Everything felt like a fever dream.

The maids helped me sit at the edge of the bed before leaving me alone. I stood up immediately, desperate to get out of the gown. It felt like it weighed a hundred pounds. Mrs. Volkov hadn't said much to me, everything was moving too fast. I reached behind my back, struggling with the zipper, but it wouldn't budge.

Just as I was about...