Adrian’s POV
The journey to the royal pack had been long enough to give me time to think, and that alone made it more difficult than it should have been. Normally, I would have used the hours to focus on strategy, on preparation, and on the kind of presence I needed to carry into something as important as leadership training.
This was not just another gathering. It was a place where strength was measured at more than physical ability, and where every decision, every word, and every reaction would be noticed.
This time, my thoughts did not stay where they were supposed to.
They kept returning to Ariana.
I had not heard from her in any real way since she left, and the silence had settled into something I could no longer ignore. It was not the kind of distance that came from being busy
