Ethan’s POV
After leaving Elle in the room, I felt this strange heaviness in my chest. I wasn’t sure what it was—guilt, maybe. Or confusion. She had agreed to the fake marriage, and I knew that should’ve made things easier. But it didn’t. I felt like I’d dragged her into something deeper than either of us understood.
I headed outside and walked to the stables. My horse, a big black stallion named Kael, was already waiting. He was restless today, stomping at the ground and tossing his head like he could feel my mood. I reached out and stroked his neck, whispering to calm him before I climbed into the saddle. The sky above was cloudy, casting long shadows over the forest path that led to the heart of my pack.
I preferred riding to shifting. People thought I avoided shifting because of
