Ash's pov
I peeled off the dark coat the moment I stepped into my room, letting it drop over the edge of the sofa without a second thought. The scent of wolves and political tension still clung to the fabric. Everything about that hall had been too loud, too performative—too fake. But I supposed that was the world we lived in.
The water in the bathroom was already drawn—lukewarm, as I preferred. Quiet steam rose into the air. I stripped off the last of the day’s weight, stepping under the stream without hesitation.
The water hit my skin like clarity.
I tilted my head forward, resting one palm on the tiled wall. The image of her wouldn’t leave my mind. Lisa. Fragile. Bruised. Eyes that looked like they'd stopped expecting kindness.
I exhaled sharply through my nose.
She didn’t complai
