Chapter 37 The Restless

• Bryan
• The map of the kingdom stretched across the wall of my office, black Xs marking every neighboring pack where we had already searched and found no trace of Leora. With the kingdom pack at the heart of the land, the sheer number of territories beyond an hour's reach made sorting through them an overwhelming task. Distance wasn't the only obstacle—I could no longer stray far without my grip on Shawn slipping. It was my pack's unwavering presence, their connection through the bonds, that kept me grounded.
• Whenever I strayed from the pack for too long, the ache in my chest intensified, a constant, punishing reminder of what was missing. Shawn's rage, festering in the absence of his mate, turned volatile—hurling himself against the walls of my mind, demanding release. Without the stabilizing presence of my pack, suppressing him became a battle I was slowly losing. Their steadfast support and reassurances that we would find our queen and bring her home kept him from unraveling entirely.