Alaric's POV
Three rivals now blocked my path, all competing for what should be mine by right. Lyra's hand in marriage belongs to me alone. I am the original High Alpha, the one with the purest bloodline and the most legitimate claim to her.
I ran my fingers through my tangled hair, which had become oily and messy over the last few days. Between my heated argument with Lyra and officially declaring my intent to pursue Roxanne, I'd barely managed basic self-care.
I stood from my chair with an annoyed growl, examining the disaster sprawled across my desk. Papers lay scattered everywhere like wreckage from a blast. I stared at the chaos briefly before giving up completely, yanking my office door open harder than needed.
I desperately craved freedom from the endless documents threatening to drown me.
