~Kaida Orion POV~
Elder Rachael tapped her staff against the floor, her voice grave. "And the unrest grows, news of your absence has stirred doubts and some whisper that the gods turned their backs on us during the flood, that your bond is..." He paused, glancing between Lupus and me. "—weakened."
My throat tightened with whispers and doubts, of course they could sense it. What I had seen in the courtyard was already leaking into the air we breathed.
Biat shifted beside me, his sword resting against his knee, his gaze steady. "The Alpha has returned. Doubt will fade once action is taken and strength must be shown now, or it will be too late."
He was right, but strength was hard to summon when my heart was breaking.
