Damon's POV
My thoughts drifted to the past few days, working beside Aria day in and day out. Her scent filled the conference rooms. The way the fractured mate bond hummed every time our eyes met.
Rhein had been in constant agony, aching for his mate, for the completion only she could bring, and I had done nothing to ease it.
I throttled my own hunger deliberately every single time. Part of it was fear that pushing too hard would send her running again. But the darker truth ran deeper, and I admitted it only to myself.
I didn't want to heal Rhein too fast, because as long as my wolf stayed wounded, Aria stayed.
For now, I would keep slowing down the healing. Keep Aria close under the guise of necessity.
Aria's POV
I paced around the garden. Birds sang somewhere overhead, but even th
