KAI POV
Elara fell asleep within minutes of our conversation, exhaustion finally claiming her. I sat beside her bed watching her breathe, too wired to even consider resting myself. Every time I closed my eyes I saw Rick lunging for Aiden. Saw Elara throwing herself between them. Saw her get torn apart protecting our son.
She'd almost died. Again. And this time it would have been my fault for bringing her to Thornwood. For asking her to walk back into her trauma. For not seeing the conspiracy brewing in my own pack.
"You're spiraling." James appeared in the doorway. "I can tell by the look on your face. Stop it."
"I almost got her killed." I didn't take my eyes off Elara. "Almost got the twins killed too. If she hadn't been strong enough to fight through the sedative—"
"But she was." H
