Aria POV

Kael’s vow lingered in the air like a razor, sharp enough to draw blood from nothing. His words penetrated my chest, each syllable searing itself onto my ribs until I struggled to breathe. He wasn’t just talking; he was making a promise, one that was infused with both fury and sorrow.

And I trusted him.

His arms tightened around me as if sheer strength could bind me to him, to this reality. His grip quivered, his breath catching in a way I had never experienced from him before. The formidable Alpha Kael, who led warriors, who never wavered in battle, was fracturing—splintering right there against my skin.

The...