Different Realty

Oliver's POV

I froze in place the moment I saw Darren standing inside my hideout. My breath hitched as my instincts sharpened, my body tense. He wasn't supposed to be here. No one was.

"Darren, what are you doing here?" My voice came out calmer than expected, but the undercurrent of suspicion was unmistakable.

Owen's Beta met my gaze with unwavering determination, but something else lurked behind his eyes—concern, maybe even desperation.

"I could no longer cover for you," he admitted, his shoulders sagging slightly. "Our pack is struggling without you, Owen. They need their Alpha. They need to see that you're still alive, that you're still leading them."

I clenched my jaw. He was right, but I had been avoiding that responsibility ever since I took Owen's place. It wasn't that I didn't care; I did. More than anything. But going back meant facing the weight of everything that had happened.