I walked beside Steven, our footsteps echoing in the too-quiet hallway, the space between us carefully maintained. Neither too close nor too far.
We had been sharing a chamber but never speaking, never touching, barely even looking at each other. We had to perform our roles as alpha and luna in front of the pack while the bond between us ached and twisted with unresolved tension.
My body was exhausted from lack of proper sleep. My heart was exhausted from everything else.
Through the bond, I could feel Steven's anxiety ratcheting higher with each step toward his father's room.
The emotion was so strong it nearly overwhelmed my own trepidation. Alpha Derek was dying, had been struggling for weeks now and today's visit felt different.
I wanted to save him at any cost. But I knew..
Th
