Chapter 45: Denial's Edge
(Alex's POV)
I stared at the tablet William shoved into my hands. My chest tightened as the screen lit up with a scene I hadn’t been prepared to see. Aurora stood on the sacred hunting grounds of the Shadow Warriors, her silver hair catching the moonlight and gleaming like spun light.
Marcus Black was guiding her through basic hunting formations, his massive form standing close to hers. His hands adjusted her grip on the ceremonial spear as though it was the most natural thing in the world. Aurora—my Aurora—tilted her head slightly to listen to his words. Her expression wasn’t tense or forced. She almost looked… amused.
“She’s participating more than we thought,” William said cautiously, his voice hesitant.
“She’s pretending,” I shot back, my voice sharp
