ISABEL POV

My feet carried me to Thalia's room, but as I approached the door, the sound of laughter reached my ears, halting my progress. It was Valerian, his voice filled with mirth as he played with his daughters.

"Yes, I love flowers!" Valerian declared.

"I'm surprised you do," Thalia replied, her tone laced with amusement. "I'm even more surprised at the things you've admitted to loving lately."

A wave of jealousy washed over me, a bitter pang that gnawed at my heart. These were the words that I expected Alpha Xavier to whisper to me, not the cruel mockery he now greets me with.

"Listen here," Valerian said, his...