(Third person's POV)
The night air hung heavy with tension at the Silver Return Ceremonial Grounds. Alexander Blackwood's words about Aria's death lingered in the space between them, each syllable striking Derek Silverstone like physical blows. His fingers curled tightly into fists, claws digging into his palms until thin rivulets of silver-essence blood trickled between his knuckles.
The physical pain couldn't begin to compete with the agonizing ache that spread through his chest—a pain unlike anything he had ever experienced in his long life as an alpha. It radiated outward from his heart, a jolt reminiscent of silver poisoning, leaving every nerve ending throbbing with raw grief.
Yet even as the pain threatened to overwhelm him, Derek's mind refused to accept the reality before him. His ice-blue eyes, usually cold and calculating, were now bloodshot and wild with fury and denial.
"This is absurd," he growled, his overwhelming alpha presence crackling with barely contained emotio
