She had grown used to his illness creeping in waves, but this time felt different. This time, the shadows clung heavier, the air colder, as though the Moon Goddess herself lingered, watching.
"Do not look at me that way," Damien whispered, voice raw, yet threaded with stubborn pride. His eyes, though dimmed, still carried the fire of an Alpha who refused to bend. "I am not a corpse yet."
Evelyn's lips trembled as she forced a smile. "You sound more wolf than man when you say that. Even corpses would fear the way you cling to life."
His hand tightened slightly around hers, a fleeting echo of strength. "Life is worth clinging to when you hold it in your hands." His gaze softened, the sharp edges of Alpha command fading into something only she ever saw. "But I feel it, Evelyn. The end is creeping closer. My body betrays me more each day."
