Aiden’s POV
Later that day, I paced along the borders of Crimson Pack territory, the frost crunching under my boots. The cold stung my cheeks, but it couldn’t douse the fire twisting inside me. My fingers brushed the folded hospital documents in my jacket pocket—again and again, like a reflex. Their weight pressed against me like a confession I wasn’t ready to face. Each step felt heavy with an urgency that clawed at my chest. I couldn’t turn back now. I had to see her. I had to know.
The sharp tang of pine mingled with the dampness of the earth, but even nature seemed muted compared to the storm roaring inside me. My wolf growled, pacing just beneath the surface of my skin, restless and agitated. His frustration mirrored my own.
London had done this—hidden her away behind layers of smu
