The estate had never felt so restless.
Even before the sun rose, wolves were already moving through the grounds. Guards rotated shifts more frequently than usual. Messengers arrived and departed in quiet urgency. The pack could sense something brewing, even if most of them didn't yet know what it was.
Inside the private suite, Aria stirred awake slowly.
For a moment she simply lay still, listening to the steady rhythm of Damien's breathing beside her.
His arm rested protectively around her waist, his warmth seeping into her skin like a shield against the cold unease lingering in the air.
But the moment she shifted slightly, his eyes opened.
Sharp.
Alert.
Damien never truly slept deeply anymore.
"Morning," she whispered.
His expression softened immediately when he saw her awake.
"Morning."
His hand moved instinctively to her stomach, resting there with a quiet possessiveness that still made her heart flutter.
