Aiden’s POV
I didn’t want to cross paths with Irina again. After last night, I realized I couldn't trust my own control. The sight of her, crumpled and broken at the base of that tree, had ignited a feral rage in Arlo that had taken every ounce of my will to suppress. The coppery scent of her blood had been a poison in the air, and the silent tears on her cheeks had felt like a personal accusation.
So I’d thrown myself into the tedium of hosting. The first day of the Alpha's Gathering was a circus of posturing and politics, set in the sprawling gardens under strings of lanterns. I moved through the crowds, exchanging hollow pleasantries, my smile a cold, sharp thing that never reached my eyes. I nodded at boasts of territory and strength, I listened to plans for alliances, all while my m
