Aria’s POV
I woke to an empty bed, the sunlight filtering softly through the curtains. Damon was gone, which wasn’t unusual. Between training the wolves and preparing for Juda’s inevitable attack, he’d been busier than ever. Still, the absence of his warmth left the room feeling colder than it should have.
I stretched, rolling my shoulders as I sat up. The faint sounds of the pack stirring drifted through the windows—wolves heading out to patrol, the hum of conversation from the kitchen, footsteps on gravel. Life went on, even with a storm brewing on the horizon.
Pushing the covers off, I padded to the bathroom and turned on the shower. The hot water was soothing, washing away the heaviness of the night before. My thoughts lingered on what Arlo had told me: You’re ready. You’re unstoppa
