Ava’s POV
Steve’s claws shot out once more, his entire frame going rigid like a bow drawn tight and ready to snap. “She’s our healer. She’s staying right here.”
The rest let out deep, rusty snarls that shook the dirt under our feet. But they held back. Not charging yet. The head one bent in closer, his beat-up nose twitching wide as he pulled in the scent around Steve, then over to me.
“You want in,” he said at last, “then ditch her here.”
“What?” Arin fired back right away, his words sharp. “No chance in hell.”
The leader’s blank eyes slid to him, taking their time. “Female waits outside. You lot go on.”
Steve moved up again, chest rising and falling hard, hands balled up tight. “We’re not dumping her anywhere. You guarding your holy spots? Okay. But this ain’t some deal where we tr
