The day that followed Mara’s poisonous words was the darkest of my life. Aiden, once my protector, my Alpha, began to drift away, pulling back further.
I had hoped that the more time we spent together, the more the bond between us would grow, that he would see me for who I truly was. Instead, I was met with cold indifference.
The warmth I had felt in his presence had faded, leaving only a chilling emptiness in its wake. It wasn’t even the typical cold shoulder.
No, it was worse. It was a complete avoidance. Aiden wouldn’t look at me directly anymore. He wouldn’t speak to me unless necessary, and when he did, his voice lacked the tenderness it once held.
I remember the first time I truly noticed it. I had tripped and stumbled over a loose stone in the courtyard, and I had fallen flat o
