Aiden’s POV

There was a general sigh of relief and utter exhaustion in the camp as the first light bathed the ground. We emerged victorious, but a pall had fallen over us. The shadow of Ethan took up residence in my mind, a banished killer that was hard to evict.

I made my way through camp, answering nods and halfhearted smiles from members of our pack. Their strength made me proud, but I was finding it hard to shake the ennui of my recent realization. I needed realities from Ethan that would clear his consciousness and ours and way forward.

I crept on the remnants of the battlefield and said...