Jared had only just been brought back from the edge of danger, and his scent still carried the lingering trace of fear. I could feel it in every instinct I had—his young wolf energy shaken, unstable, too close to breaking. So I kept myself steady for him. I refused to let my emotions spill into the bond.
Sitting on the bed, I carefully wiped his face with a warm wet cloth, grounding him back into safety, back into me. But beneath my calm, something else burned—something darker. The image of Aliona's grip on him had already carved itself into my instincts. That mark on his skin… it wasn't just injury. It was a warning I would not forget.
"I'm fine, Mommy," Jared whispered, though his voice trembled. "But Mr. Presgrave… they took him."
His tears fell freely as he spoke, each one cutting deeper than the last.
My chest tightened.
For a second, I almost let my grief rise. Almost.
But crying wouldn't bring anyone back.
