The night stretched long and heavy after Cassien left.

Damien stayed where he was for a long time, staring at nothing. The pack grounds were quiet now. The torches had burned low. Guards had returned to their posts. Everyone believed the danger had passed.

But his chest would not calm.

He finally went to his room and shut the door behind him. The silence hit him harder than the shouting earlier. He paced once. Twice. Then stopped.

Slowly, he pulled out his phone.

His thumb hovered over one ...