MACKENZIE
The next few days passed in a blur. With Arthur gone to handle the court proceedings against Deacon, Alistair was buried in pack responsibilities. As the Beta, he was now the acting Alpha—and it showed. He came home late at night, long after I had fallen asleep, and left before dawn. Each time, he would whisper apologies for not being around, and I would reassure him that it was temporary—that everything would settle soon.
One morning, I heard a soft knock at the bedroom door. It creaked open and Mom stepped in, careful not to make any noise. When she saw I was awake, her shoulders relaxed, and she approached me where I sat on the bed.
"How are you feeling, sweetheart?" she asked, her voice warm and gentle as her hands found mine, her touch soft and comforting.
"I'm better n
