Aziel's pov
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The late afternoon sun filtered through the tall windows of my office, casting long golden shadows across the room.
Papers and maps were strewn across my mahogany desk, each one a reminder of the responsibilities that weighed on my shoulders as Alpha.
I leaned back, rubbing my temples, feeling the fatigue gnaw at me.
The air was thick with the scent of old wood, leather-bound books, and the faint musk of wolf—a constant reminder of the life I’d chosen, or perhaps the life that had chosen me.
A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.
I glanced up to see Lailani standing in the doorway, her dark hair framing her face, eyes warm and knowing.
“Waylen is here to see you,” she said, her voice gentle, careful.
I felt a pang of gratitude for her, for the way she a
