The days stretched into a silent, aching void.

Lucien had built walls around himself again, higher than before, and no matter how many times I reached for him—through words, through glances, through touch—he gave me nothing in return but cold replies, distant nods, and hollow silence.

In public, we played the roles expected of Alpha and Luna. We stood side by side at meetings, we attended gatherings and gave orders, but it was all a performance. Behind closed doors, he barely looked at me.

Every night, we shared the same bed, yet it felt like I was sleeping beside a stranger. I would wake up facing him, but he’d always...