Aria’s POV
But not before I caught the flicker of sadness in his eyes.
“Thank you,” he said quietly. “I needed that.”
I nodded, feeling strangely awkward. Slowly, I moved toward my discarded clothes. If anyone asked whether I felt used—no, I didn’t. I felt… satisfied, even. Don’t get me wrong, I was sticky, messy, and somehow hornier than before—but Lucian… my heart ached for him.
What was going through his mind?
I kept my distance, sensing the weight of his Alpha energy. He was quiet for a long time, just standing there, arms folded over his chest, eyes fixed on something in the distance. The wind tugged at his shirt, ruffling it gently, but he didn’t move.
He looked so still… too still. Like if I touched him, he might crack. I pulled my gown over my head and walked toward him,
