Klaus’s POV
From the moment I let Orion take the lead on the mission to Willow Pack, something in my chest felt… wrong.
Amanda’s cries still echoed in my ears, raw and desperate, as she clung to him before his departure. I had to look away, my jaw clenched tightly, because part of me wanted to tear the entire mission apart and go myself. But when my gaze landed on Aria—my mate, my light—I understood why I stayed behind.
She deserved safety too. She deserved to feel my presence beside her, to know that no matter what chaos threatened us, I would be here. We were supposed to be celebrating our mating ceremony and embarking on a honeymoon, not standing knee-deep in endless problems and bloodshed.
The decision still weighed heavily on me. Orion was more than capable of leading the mission,
