Bryan
A sharp knock at my door jolted me from my thoughts. I didn't need to ask who it was—I already knew. Gunner. His citrusy scent reached me a heartbeat before he stepped inside. Good. I needed his help.
"Bryan, it's been a few days since you left this room. Are you okay?"
At least someone cared enough to check on me, even though I vaguely recalled ordering everyone to leave me alone. When an alpha gave a command, the pack was bound to obey. I really needed to stop doing that.
The relentless throbbing in my chest—the hollow ache of my mate's absence—consumed me. Nothing eased it, nothing dulled the sharp edges pressing into my senses. Every breath felt heavier, every interaction more strained. The pack tethered me, kept me from unraveling completely, but even their presence wasn't e
