ALARIC POV
I was watching the scene unfold, and it felt like watching a plane crash from the ground.
Too close.
Too loud.
Too f*****g helpless.
I could only stand there and focus on my mate. On her emotions. On her mind. On the bond between us, because if I looked too long at Graham, if I thought too much about the words coming out of his mouth, Drake was going to tear through my skin and go for someone’s throat.
Then Graham said it.
And everything inside the bond vanished.
Just—
Gone.
I felt Aria go quiet.
Literally.
One second, she was all fire inside me. Rage. Pain. Disgust so sharp it had Drake clawing at my ribs, begging me to let him out, begging me to put my hands around someone’s throat and squeeze until the world made sense again.
And then—
Nothing.
Not calm.
Not p
