The nights were longer now. Or maybe it just felt that way because he hadn’t slept in weeks.

Draven stood on the balcony outside the Alpha’s quarters, half-hidden in shadow. Below him, the courtyard stretched wide and empty, moonlight glinting off stone, wind stirring the banners that once bore his crest with pride.

He no longer looked at them.

Every sound sharpened in his ears, the soft rustle of leaves, the distant call of sentries, the heartbeat he could always find no matter how ...