The courtyard emptied slowly, guards dragging Lorian away in chains, his mocking laughter still echoing in the night air. Each sound dug into Aria’s chest like claws, her wolf pacing restlessly beneath her skin. She could still feel the betrayal like a wound — raw, bleeding, and far too deep to ignore.
Killian’s hand was firm on hers, his thumb brushing over her skin in an absent, desperate attempt at comfort. His wolf was close to the surface; she could feel the hum of Alpha energy radiating from him, a storm he was barely holding back.
“Are you all right?” His voice was low, rough.
Aria shook her head slowly, her throat tight. “I don’t… I don’t even know what ‘all right’ means anymore. Someone I trusted just tried to destroy everything. And he almost succeeded.”
Killian’s jaw clenche
