It was difficult because Kade carried the weight of an entire kingdom on his shoulders.
One crisis had barely begun before another demanded his attention.
Cooper's condition.
Dakota and the unborn heir.
Takoda's recovery.
The unrest at Blackwood Village.
The affairs of Nightfall.
Every decision affected thousands of lives, and every mistake carried consequences far beyond a single battle.
Ryker had spent only one sleepless night juggling a fraction of those responsibilities, and already he felt as though his body were about to collapse.
A faint, helpless smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"No wonder..."
He murmured quietly to himself.
"...the Royal Alpha barely sleeps."
His thoughts drifted toward Marcus.
For years, Marcus had remained at Kade's side, quietly handling endless reports, coordinating NightShade's daily operations, managing internal affairs, and anticipating problems before they ever reached the Royal Alpha's desk.
Ryker had always respected him.
