Damon’s POV
The lake house creaked under the weight of tension. Outside, the moon hung low in the sky, casting long, distorted shadows across the room. Inside, the air was heavy with worry and an almost suffocating sense of urgency. Aria lay pale and unmoving on the couch, her face too still, her chest barely rising and falling. I couldn’t stop looking at her—couldn’t stop my mind from spiraling into worst-case scenarios.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. I thought the mating bond would protect her. I thought I could protect her.
The knock at the door jolted me from my thoughts. I stood quickly, ready for anything, but it was Tabitha who crossed the room to open it. Her sharp intake of breath gave me pause.
“Ronan,” she breathed.
I frowned. “Who?”
The man standing in the doorway looked
