Chapter 10: The Sting of a Scorned Alpha

The adrenaline of the fight faded, leaving behind a bone-deep weariness and the sharp, familiar ache of the bond. The fleeting unity, the perfect synchronicity, felt like a dream already dissolving in the harsh light of reality. I could still feel the ghost of Kaelus’s arm around my waist, the solid warmth of his chest against my back. The memory was a brand, both torturous and tantalizing. Finn found me leaning against a splintered market stall, my hands trembling as I tried to catch my breath....