Back in the grand halls of Shadow Moon Pack, silence weighed heavier than the loudest celebration. The once-boisterous pack grounds were subdued, even restless.
Kael Stormfang sat alone in his private chamber, the firelight flickering across his sharp features. But the warmth of the flames did nothing to reach the cold knot growing in his chest.
It started as a faint twinge, barely noticeable at first. A subtle ache where his mate bond had once connected him to Aria.
Then it grew.
A deep, burning pulse that rattled his body. Every heartbeat screamed her name. Every breath felt incomplete.
Kael’s claws dug into the edge of the chair as he struggled to steady himself. His wolf stirred violently beneath the surface—restless, angry, unrelenting.
Alpha… The voice was low, tense, vibrating
