ELENA'S POV
Nobody moved for a long moment after the gold light faded.
The young wolf was still slumped against the cracked wall, conscious now but not in any hurry to stand up.
The other two wolves behind Ryker hadn't moved an inch since the eruption. Smart.
Ryker looked at his pack member, then back at me.
"Dax. On your feet."
Dax pushed himself upright slowly, one hand pressed against his ribs. He looked at me differently now. Not with the dismissive impatience from before.
Something more careful had replaced it.
"Apologize," Ryker said.
Dax blinked. "Alpha…."
"She is the Nightshade heir. You reached for her ally without permission in her safe house." Ryker's voice was quiet and completely immovable. "Apologize."
Dax looked at me. Something moved across his face that cost
