Kaius moved through the crowd with numb steps, his mind a haze of pain and disbelief as he searched for Alpha Jae. His wolf, Zeus, was silent, withdrawn into a dark corner of his consciousness, wounded beyond words. The bond was gone, severed, leaving behind only an aching void that clawed at his insides like a beast starving for something it would never taste again.
When he finally spotted Alpha Jae, the older man was engaged in polite conversation with another alpha, but the moment their eyes met, Jae’s expression darkened. He excused himself swiftly, stepping toward Kaius with a knowing look.
“Is all in order?” Jae asked carefully, his voice low, but his sharp eyes scanned Kaius’s face, reading him with the wisdom of years spent in leadership.
Kaius barely found the strength to respo
