Adrien.
I had expected Noah to react differently.
Recklessly.
Emotionally.
Blinded by jealousy and confusion, just like anyone else would have been in his position. I had thought he would lose control, lash out without thinking, making it easier for everything to spiral exactly the way Daniel wanted.
But he didn't.
He proved me wrong.
And for the first time, despite everything stacked against us, despite the tension, the uncertainty, and the looming danger, I felt something I hadn't expected.
Pride.
A faint chuckle escaped my lips, low and almost unintentional as I shook my head slightly.
"Nice guess, Noah," I said, my tone carrying a hint of amusement as I looked at him. "You aren't dumb after all."
It was rare.
Giving him credit like that.
But he had earned it.
Noah rolled his eyes instantly, the reaction almost automatic, but I could see it, the strain beneath it. The way his body tensed, his fists clenching slightly as if he was holding something back.
His wolf.
