Jared's POV
I stared at the ceiling of my tiny room, the dim glow of the moon sneaking through the crack in the curtains. Sleep wasn't happening tonight. Not with Xaden's smug voice playing on repeat in my head.
"Asher is mine. Always has been, always will be."
The words made my blood boil. My wolf was pacing restlessly inside me, scratching at the edges of my control. It wanted to fight, to protect, to do something.
But I couldn't just barge into Xaden's room and punch him in the face, no matter how much I wanted to. That wouldn't help Zina or Asher.
I sighed and rolled over, staring at the photo on my nightstand. It was a little blurry, but you could still see Zina's smile—soft and real—and Asher's tiny hand clutching hers. They looked so happy in that moment. Untouchable.
But now? Now Zina looked like a shadow of herself, and Asher...he didn't deserve any of this.
Why hasn't she left him?
