POV: Araya
Ronan's Direwolf form towers over Jasper, teeth buried in the Alpha's throat. Not deep enough to kill. Not yet. But the threat is clear.
One wrong move and Jasper dies.
The clearing is frozen. No one dares intervene. This is between two Alphas fighting over the same female.
Araya's wolf stirs inside her. Not with longing for Jasper, but with instinctive response to his distress. The echo of the broken mate bond trembling at his pain.
But her heart remains steady. Certain.
"Ronan, stop," Araya commands.
Ronan's golden eyes shift to her, burning with possessive fury. He doesn't release Jasper. Doesn't ease the pressure on his throat.
"He has no right to be here," Ronan's voice rumbles through his wolf form, distorted but understandable. "No right to ask anything of you."
