Julian, as Sophia's mate, arranged her funeral. He couldn't accept her death. For a day and a night, he sifted through the warehouse's ashes, finding her charred, curled-up remains, her face unrecognizable. His trembling hands brushed the brittle corpse, unable to reconcile it with the she-wolf who once smiled so softly, her eyes bright with warmth.
"Julian, Sophia's gone. You have to face it," Chloe urged, though her mind was already spinning plans for their binding ceremony.
But Julian barely heard her. His thoughts were haunted by Sophia's anguished cry before the flames swallowed her: "In the next life, I never want to see you again." He saw her bitter, desolate smile when Chloe claimed Alex was his pup. He'd deceived Sophia for so long, thinking he could keep it up forever. But in t
