Strength isn't just muscle—it's heart, mind, and wolf.
Morning came too fast. I'd barely slept, body aching from injuries and mind racing through everything that had happened.
The primal power that had surged through me. Celeste's betrayal. Gideon's mocking message. All of it circling in endless loop.
Through the bond, Darius hadn't slept either. He'd spent the night coordinating with Marcus and Devon, reinforcing defensive positions, preparing for the next assault everyone knew was coming.
"You need to rest," he said when I found him in the command center we'd set up in the library basement.
"So do you."
"I can't. Not while threats are circling."
"Neither can I."
We stood there, exhausted and stubborn, neither willing to be the first to admit we were running on fumes.
Caleb appeared with coffee. Strong, bitter, probably the only thing keeping anyone functional.
