A Duke can only do so much, and Taisiya knew this much. His reach was not as far-reaching as the Alpha King's, and his word was not as final as the Alpha King's.

Looking deep into her mate's love-filled gaze for what she thought would be the last time, she grabbed him into one last tearful, passion-filled kiss for the night.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, wanting to smudge her neatly done makeup. She then pulled away, shoulders back, head high, and walked away from him without another word or a second glance, making up her mind to leave him and this fantasy behind her.

That night, they went their...