Chapter 65: Growing Bonds
(Gabriel’s POV)
The confines of my den offered little relief from the turmoil brewing inside me. Restless, I found myself pacing. My wolf snarled beneath the surface, agitated by thoughts I couldn’t seem to escape. I moved to the corner of my desk, where a hidden drawer housed a folder I hadn’t touched in years.
Sliding the latch open, my fingers hesitated over its contents—just one photograph. My throat tightened as it came into view. Charlotte.
It was taken years ago. I’d returned late from a grueling day of pack duties to find her asleep at my dining table. Her golden hair fanned out over her arms, soft breaths escaping pursed lips. That night, instead of waking her or pushing her away, something in me had paused. Even then, even when I treated her like
