Lucian remains frozen in his seat, his fingers curled into tight fists against his thighs.
The heavy silence in the hall is deafening, punctuated only by the hushed murmurs of the remaining pack members.
Small groups have formed, whispering, but he doesn't acknowledge them. His mind is a storm, his chest a battlefield of emotions that he refuses to let spill over.
Across the room, Jackson watches him. He has known Lucian for too long, long enough to recognize when the alpha is slipping into that dangerous, self-destructive stillness.
The tension in Lucian's body is telling, his shoulders rigid, his breaths deep and uneven. It's exactly what Jackson expected after what just happened.
Aiden's words still echo in the air like a curse.
"I love a man that I've always loved, and I'm not ashamed to say it!"
Lucian had felt his world shatter right then and there. Aiden had turned his back and walked away, and all Lucian could do was sit and watch.
Coward.
