Kira POV:

The dawn outside the window was a dull gray. I hadn't slept all night, and I changed into a simple black dress, the only thing in my closet that felt right for the day.

Dorian was already gone. The other side of the bed was cold. He had left for a Pack council meeting, and afterward, he would attend Leo's celebration banquet.

I didn't go to the funeral grounds. I knew Dorian's orders. Aiden's funeral would be handled quickly and quietly, like an unpleasant duty that only needed to be completed.

Instead, I went to the Elder's Court. I needed to see Elder Alistair Sinclair, Dorian's grandfather. He was the only person in the Pack who still valued tradition and justice above power.

He was my last hope.

The Elder's Court was an ancient stone building in the center of the Pack lands. I found Alistair sitting beside the fireplace, one hand resting on his white ash staff.

When he saw me, his sharp gray eyes flashed with surprise before turning heavy with sorrow. "Kira," he said in a deep voice. "I know why you're here. Sit down."

I fell to my knees before him. The tears I had forced myself to hold back finally fell. "Elder... Aiden... something happened to him. There was no protective ward. Dorian won't listen to me..."

Alistair listened without interrupting, but the anger on his face grew with every word. When I finished, he slammed his staff against the stone floor, the sound echoing through the hall.

"Impossible! Taking a cub's life force without a protective ward is not an accident. It is murder!"

Before I could respond, Dorian's assistant, Jessica Price, entered the room.

The young Beta lowered her head respectfully. "Luna, Alpha asked me to inform you that Aiden's funeral will begin in half an hour. He also expects you to attend Leo's celebration dinner tonight."

My fingers froze. He wanted me to attend a celebration for the child who benefited from my son's death.

Alistair's expression changed instantly.

He pointed his staff toward Jessica, his voice shaking with fury. "Leave. Go back and tell Dorian that if he still sees me as his grandfather, he will cancel that ridiculous party immediately. A Sinclair heir has died, yet he celebrates another child? He is bringing shame to this Pack."

Jessica's face turned pale. She quickly bowed and left.

The moment the door closed, Alistair's breathing turned uneven. He pressed a hand against his chest, his face tightening as pain crossed his features. His old condition had flared up again.

"Elder." I rushed forward, helped him sit properly, and found his medicine.

After taking it, he slowly recovered. His hand held mine tightly.

"Child, don't worry. I will investigate this matter to the end." His voice remained firm. "Now go. Go and say your final goodbye to Aiden. The Sinclair family owes him that much."

Aiden's funeral was held in the Pack's sacred grove. It was a small ceremony, attended only by me, Elder Alistair, and a few elderly Pack members who came with quiet sympathy. Dorian never appeared.

I lowered Aiden's small urn into the earth with my own hands. The Moon Goddess would guide him home.

But I knew what Genevieve and Dorian were capable of. If they wanted to hide the truth about Aiden's death and cover up what really happened during Leo's healing ritual, they would find a way to destroy any evidence.

My fingers touched the locket against my chest. I would protect the last thing I had left of my son.

After the funeral, dizziness suddenly overwhelmed me. Alistair arranged for someone to escort me back to the Alpha House to rest. As I walked through the grand hall, I saw the celebration still in full swing.

The celebration was still going on. Dorian had ignored his grandfather's order, and the grand hall remained filled with bright lights, music, and laughter.

I walked past without stopping. I only wanted to return to my room, hold Aiden's ashes, and be alone, so I took the path through the back garden. That was when I saw them - a scene I would never forget.

Under the shadow of a large oak tree, Dorian had Genevieve pressed against the trunk, kissing her without hesitation. It was not a gentle or hidden kiss, but one filled with desire. Her arms were wrapped around his neck, and her soft sounds mixed with the music drifting from the banquet hall.

Aiden's funeral had ended only a few hours ago, and my husband was already with another woman. The last trace of hope I had for our mate bond disappeared. I just stood in the darkness and watched them.

Then Dorian sensed me. He pulled away from Genevieve and turned his head. Our eyes met across the garden. His expression remained cold, showing only irritation at being interrupted and a silent warning for me to walk away.

I slowly curved my lips into a smile. A smile with no warmth left in it. Then I turned around and walked away.

Dorian Sinclair.

From this moment on, there was nothing left between us.