Aiden’s POV

The night dragged on for long, every minute feeling like an hour. Every second ticked louder, sharper, mocking me. Rue hadn’t called me back.

I sat in my office, whiskey untouched, staring at the phone on the table as though it might suddenly ring with her name on the screen. My wolf stirred restlessly, pacing inside me.

“She should have called,” I muttered under my breath, clenching my fist. “She always comes back.”

But she hadn’t.

That thought dug at me like claws. ...