Lucien's POV
After seeing Ravena leave with her servants, a deep pain began to spread through my chest. It was sharp at first, then slow and burning, crawling through my veins as if my own body had betrayed me. Each step I tried to take grew heavier until my knees almost buckled.
Gritting my teeth, I leaned against the wall, willing the pain to pass. My pride would not let me fall in front of them. An Alpha did not collapse. An Alpha commanded. But the pain twisted, dragging me lower until I had to close my eyes just to steady my breath.
It was then Astrid appeared, walking into the hall. Her eyes flicked to Ravena’s fading figure and the servants trailing after her. For a moment, I thought I saw the faint curve of her lips as if she welcomed the sight. A smile, small and sly, tugged
