Each passing day felt heavier, an invisible weight pressing down on Raya’s chest as she watched the shift in Kaius unfold before her eyes. She had expected frustration, maybe even a little resentment, but nothing prepared her for the cold, ruthless detachment that now defined him. The mate bond, once a silent pulse between them, had become an unbearable force, clawing at her sanity, demanding recognition. But he gave her nothing.
Not a glance. Not a word. Not even an accidental brush in passing.
At first, she convinced herself that this was exactly what she had wanted. That Kaius maintaining his distance was necessary. But each day, that excuse became harder and harder to believe. Because the truth was… it hurt.
It shouldn’t have, she told herself.
You wanted this.
But the sting of
