Nasya's POV
After that day, Zayn seemed to vanish from my orbit entirely, like a star swallowed by the void of deep space. The absence of his familiar presence left a tangible hole in the daily rhythm of the pack compound, though I tried not to dwell on it. According to Elijah, who delivered the news with his usual clipped efficiency, new developments had emerged in Harper's case—something about a lead in the Appalachian foothills that required the Alpha's personal oversight. The explanation made sense; Zayn's dedication to pack security was as unyielding as the mountain range he'd gone to investigate. Still, the compound felt emptier without the weight of his authority lingering in the air.
