ETHAN
My eyes softened, only for her. Everyone else still felt the storm pouring off me, sharp and electric, daring anyone to come close. Damian had always been a parasite, but now he was one on my land, dripping venom with every word. And the bastard knew exactly which nerves to strike.
Ruby’s hand on my arm steadied the chaos inside me. Her voice was soft, but it cut through the fury like moonlight through smoke.
“Hey,” she murmured, “he’s gone.”
“Not far enough,” I muttered, the words raw and carrying my suppressed fury. I wanted that fool off my land immediately, laws of diplomacy be damned.
Jason cleared his throat behind us...carefully, like someone approaching a live grenade.
“Alpha… the warriors are still tense. Should I...?”
“No,” I snapped. Then, forcing myself to modula
