He was destroying Aria too.
---
“Marcus… pull yourself together,” Aria whispered softly.
She wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly as if afraid he might shatter.
“I’m still here,” she murmured gently through their faint sibling mindlink. “I’m not leaving you.”
Marcus buried his face in her shoulder as tears fell freely.
In his hand he clutched the silver ring he had once given Sophia beneath the full moon.
Only hours earlier, Sophia had ended their engagement.
Five months of hearings before the pack council and endless rumors had worn down her faith.
In the end… she could not keep believing.
“I… I think she believes them now,” Marcus choked. “She thinks maybe I really tried to hurt Clara.”
His voice broke completely.
Aria immediately shook her head and cupped his face.
“No,” she said firmly. “Listen to me, my little prince. I trust you. I know you would never do something like that.”
Her gray eyes softened.
“So stay strong… at least for me. We will prove your innocence.”
Marcus slowly pulled away, despair clouding his gaze.
“Caleb won’t stop,” he said bitterly. “He’s determined to ruin us. Why don’t you just give him what he wants?”
Aria frowned.