Draven’s POV
The weight didn’t lift when the sun rose. If anything, it pressed harder. The burden of what I had to do as the alpha. It sat on my chest like a heavy stone, pressing down with every breath that I took. Even as the sun climbed higher in the sky, the weight refused to losen it's grip.
Yesterday clung to me like a second skin. The training grounds, the way the pack had shifted, eyes sharp and curious. The murmurs that followed me even after I left. Then Kattie, standing in my throne room like she already owned the place, talking about mates and futures like they were contracts waiting to be signed.
And Allene. Sweet little Allene who was finally showing some teeth.
She threaded through all of it whether I wanted her to or not. And I didn't want her to. I wanted to protect he
