The first light of dawn crept through the heavy curtains of our bedroom like a thief, casting pale shadows across the tangled sheets where Victor and I lay wrapped in each other's arms. My body still hummed from the night's rituals, every muscle sore from the shift, every nerve alive with the raw power that now coursed through my veins. But as I stirred, the ache in my heart returned, a deep, toxic wound that no amount of moonlight or pack chants could fully heal. Tears pricked my eyes before I even opened them, the memories of Damien's betrayal flooding back like poison seeping into fresh water.
Victor felt my distress through the bond, his arms tightening around me as he pulled me closer. His breath was warm against my neck, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through my chest. "What i
