Zander’s POV.
The ride back to the Silverfang territory was quiet. The only sound I could hear was the low, steady rumble of the engine beneath me. I sat in silence, staring out of the window, watching the world pass by. My mind felt like a storm-filled with anger, confusion, and guilt that I couldn’t shake off. The thoughts swirled around endlessly, refusing to settle.
I had spent the last few hours convincing myself, over and over, that what I did was the right thing. I kept repeating in my head that Aria deserved my anger, that she had earned my rage. Even if she hadn’t cheated on me with Asher, she wasn’t completely innocent. She couldn’t be. Not entirely. There was still so much that she had done, so much I couldn’t forgive her for.
She had been involved in my family’s darkest tragedy. Whether she liked it or not, she had played a part in something that tore my family apart.
Kael.
The memory of my younger brother’s face flashed through my mind. I could see him so clearly-his laughter ringing out, his confident smile, and the way he could charm anyone he met without even trying. He was everything I wasn’t. Kael was carefree, reckless, and wild, never afraid to break the rules or take risks. He had this energy about him that made people love him instantly.
And then, just like that, he was gone. The light he carried with him disappeared forever.
I clenched my fists tightly, my knuckles turning white as I stared blankly out at the passing scenery. The world outside blurred, but I didn’t really see it. All I could think about was Kael. His death had shattered my family into pieces that could never be put back together. And deep down, no matter how much I tried to deny it, I had always blamed Aria for what happened to him. She was the reason he spiraled out of control. She was the reason he left the pack that night.
And yet…
I couldn’t get the image of her face out of my head. I could still see her, tears streaming down her cheeks, begging me to believe her. She had looked so broken, so desperate, like her entire world was crumbling around her. Could someone who had truly betrayed me look like that? Could someone guilty of such a thing look so heartbroken?
I shook my head hard, trying to force the thought away. No. I couldn’t let myself think like that. Even if Asher had manipulated her, even if the message was some kind of cruel lie, none of that erased the past. It didn’t change the reality of what had happened. Kael was still gone, and in my mind, he was gone because of her.
At least, that’s what I had always believed.
The packhouse came into view, its large, familiar shape standing out against the horizon. Its looming silhouette was a sharp reminder of the life I had worked so hard to build. It was also a reminder of the life I had just finished destroying.
I stepped inside, and the familiar scents of home immediately greeted me. The smell of pine, leather, and the faint aroma of freshly baked bread from the kitchens filled the air. It was comforting, but it also felt heavy. The pack members I passed greeted me with nods of respect and quiet murmurs, but I didn’t say anything back. I barely even acknowledged them.
My father was waiting for me in his study. His face was calm, but his expression gave nothing away. He was always like that-impossible to read unless he wanted you to. As I entered, he looked up at me, his eyes sharp, studying me carefully.
“Zander,” he said simply, his voice calm but firm. “You’re back earlier than I expected. What happened? Why are you here so soon?”
I let out a long breath and sank into the chair across from him. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to find the words. Finally, I spoke, my voice flat and emotionless. “It’s over,” I said. “I ended the bond.”
His eyes narrowed slightly, and I could see a flicker of his wolf in his gaze. His sharp stare focused on me, his expression growing harder. “What are you talking about?” he asked, his tone colder now.
“Aria,” I said bitterly, the name tasting like poison on my tongue. “She’s not my Luna anymore. I broke the bond.”
For a moment, he said nothing. He just sat there, his sharp eyes fixed on me, watching me closely. Finally, he spoke, his voice quiet but firm. “What did she do to make you do this?”
“She betrayed me,” I said quickly, the words spilling out of my mouth before I could stop them. But as I said them, they felt strange-hollow, like they didn’t carry the weight they should have. “Asher… He-” I stopped, my jaw tightening in frustration. I couldn’t bring myself to finish. “It doesn’t matter. She’s gone.”