The Price of Freedom
The night had never felt heavier than it did now.
Caleb paced the length of the Alpha’s quarters, the weight of the night’s ritual still lingering in his chest like an open wound.
He ran his fingers through his hair, glancing out the window at the moonlit landscape. Everything was quiet. Peaceful, even. But the silence only amplified the thoughts racing through his mind. He couldn’t ignore it.
And forever was not a word Caleb was ready to face.
The door creaked open, and Rowan stepped inside.
Their gazes met, and Caleb could see it—the question in Rowan’s eyes, the tenderness and the uncertainty. But Caleb wasn’t ready for tenderness. Not yet.
“You’re avoiding me,” Rowan said quietly, closing the door behind him. His voice was calm, but Caleb could hear the edge
