Klaus’s POV
I lay still for a long moment, watching the rise and fall of Aria’s chest as she slept against me. Her lashes cast faint shadows on her cheeks, and the pale light of dawn made the dark circles beneath her eyes look even starker. Guilt twisted in my chest. She had barely closed her eyes since the chaos began—always alert, always listening for any sign of threat, her every thought consumed by the safety of our pack and our family.
If I could end this nightmare swiftly, I would. I prayed for it, silently. The sooner the witch was contained, the sooner I could stay by Aria’s side without the weight of unfinished battles dragging me away again. Soon, royal training would consume us, and we would be shaped into King and Queen. That life promised little privacy and no pause, but at
