Mason’s POV
The morning was still and heavy, the calm before another storm. I stood by the window in my room, staring out at the sprawling lands of my father’s estate. My thoughts were tangled, but one thread was constant—Kiana. I hated the way her voice had trembled last night, the way she’d looked at me with those pleading eyes. The way I’d had to walk away from her.
It wasn’t fair to her, but I couldn’t let her get too close. Not now. Not when everything around me was starting to unravel.
A loud knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. I straightened, pushing away the lingering guilt. "Come in."
The door opened, and my Beta, Kane, stepped inside. His expression was tense, his usual easy demeanor replaced with something grim.
"What is it, Kane?" I asked, gesturing for him to si
