Astor’s Pov
The hammer was still hitting the inside of my skull. It wasn’t just a headache; it was a deep, throbbing migraine that had been my unwanted companion for days now. I leaned back in my chair, rubbed my temples hard, and let out a grunt of frustration.
I was staring at the stack of patrol reports and it was all bad news when my desk phone buzzed.
Alpha Connor. Great. The one person who was somehow louder and more stressed than me these days.
I forced lightness into my voice, even though every word felt like sandpaper scraping against my throat. “Connor. What’s the status?”
“It’s bad Astor,” Connor’s voice rattled through the speaker, tight with fury. “I’m calling because I need to know if you’re seeing the same pattern I am.”
I didn’t even need to ask. I just sighed. “The r
