(Alexander's POV)

I sat alone in my study long after the chaos had settled, staring at the stack of territorial reports on my desk without really seeing them. My mind kept drifting back to happier times—memories that felt both precious and painful now.

Just six months ago, life had been so much simpler. I remembered how Olivia used to wait for me by the window every evening when I returned from pack business, her face lighting up the moment she spotted my car in ...