I watched my mate from across the amber-lit war room, my heart aching as his shoulders carried the weight of a thousand burdens. Kaelen Thorne—my powerful Alpha, my protector, my love—stood with his hands braced against the massive crystal table, staring at maps of territories he no longer controlled.
"We've lost direct contact with packs in these three regions," he said, his voice tight as he marked locations on the map. "Valerius has installed puppet Alphas in at least seven major territories."
King Gareth Solstice nodded gravely. "My scouts confirm that the border checkpoints have tripled in number. He's creating a continental fortress."
The war council had been underway for nearly two hours, and with each passing minute, I could see Kaelen retreating further behind his Alpha mask—that cold, impenetrable facade that hid his pain from everyone.
Everyone except me.
