Chapter 9: 9

Tristan woke the next morning with a vicious pounding behind his eyes and a hollow ache burrowed deep in his chest. Grief clung to him like a second skin heavy, suffoca ng, impossible to peel away. He dragged himself out of bed and dri ed through the silent Alpha residence like a ghost, every step echoing against memories he wished he could outrun. Her laughter s ll lived in these halls. Her so footsteps lingered in the corners. Her presence once warm and steady now felt like a wound...