The door closed softly behind Arthur, but the quiet that followed did not feel soft at all.
It settled heavy and dense, like the air itself had thickened now that his presence was gone.
Silver stood in the center of the room he had left her in, motionless, listening to the fading rhythm of his footsteps retreating down the corridor, each step carried purpose and authority. The steady gravity of someone born to lead and bound to responsibility, whether he welcomed it or not.
Alpha duties.
Even the phrase felt weighty.
He had lingered before leaving, longer than he probably should have. Long enough to make sure the attendants understood their instructions, long enough to confirm she had food, warm blankets, long enough to meet her gaze one final time, searching her expression as if memo
