The growl came again, louder this time. “Unless what? Unless you’re changing? Unless you’re becoming something else?”
“Stop.” I gritted my teeth.
The wolf’s presence grew stronger, like a shadow pressing against my thoughts. “You’re thinking too much like a man. You’re forgetting what you are.”
I closed my eyes, inhaled deeply, and spoke in my mind, “And you’re forgetting that she’s human. If she’s truly mine, she’s in danger just by being near me.”
The wolf snarled. “You think hiding her from the truth will protect her? Or pretending you don’t care?”
We argued — back and forth — until exhaustion finally forced silence between us. The bond that connected us pulsed faintly, uneasy.
After a while, I exhaled slowly and texted Butler Wu.
Message: The house I asked you to give her — was
