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When Alpha Damien returned from his meeting with the council, Stephanie immediately sensed something was wrong. His usually confident stride was slower, his posture tense, and his face, though attempting to remain composed, betrayed the turmoil inside him. She watched as he silently made his way to the far side of the living room, standing by the window, staring out into the fading daylight.

Earlier in the day, he had proposed to her, asking her to be his Luna once again. After some hesitation, thinking about all that had happened between them in the past, Stephanie had agreed. It wasn’t an easy decision, but her heart had never fully left him, and she knew they both needed each other to truly heal.

But now, as she saw the shadow of frustration in his eyes, she knew something had gone wrong. Taking a deep breath, she approached him carefully, wrapping her arms gently around his waist from behind.

"Damien," she whispered, resting her cheek against his back. "What’s wrong?"

He didn’t a