Markus had faced rejection before.
He had faced rival Alphas who challenged his authority.
He had faced enemies who wanted him dead.
He had faced traitors within his own pack.
None of those things had prepared him for this.
Because none of those people mattered to him.
These did.
For the first time in his life, Markus found himself desperately wanting the approval of six small children.
Six children who had every reason to hate him.
Six children who didn’t know him.
Six children who knew only one thing about him.
That he wasn’t there.
The realization haunted him every waking moment.
It followed him through meetings.
Through training sessions.
Through sleepless nights.
Everywhere he went, he found himself wondering what they were doing.
Whether Kai still tried to act older
