Kael's POV
The Elder chamber is packed before they even arrive.
Kael can feel the hostile energy bleeding through the walls as he leads Mira down the corridor. His hand is on the small of her back, a touch that keeps him grounded when everything in him wants to explode into violence. The bond is humming between them, her fear feeding his rage in a vicious cycle.
She's terrified.
He can taste it. Can feel it flooding through their connection like poison. And every second of her fear makes his control slip further.
"Stay with me," he tells her quietly as they reach the chamber doors. "Do not let them see you break."
Mira nods but he can feel her trembling. She's wearing a borrowed dress from Isla, something that fits better than Kael's shirt did. But it doesn't matter what she's wearing. The pack will see her as they always have. As less. As nothing.
He's going to burn this place down if they hurt her.
The doors open and they step inside.
