They didn’t attack.
That was the first thing that made everyone uneasy.
It wasn't that they were holding back or unsure; it was clear they were in control.
The kind of control you have when you know exactly when to use force and when not to.
The courtyard stayed calm, even with that tension.
Guards remained in formation.
Dorian stood at the front, every muscle tensed, but holding himself back.
Kael stayed right next to Lila, not trying to protect her or get in front of her, just present.
And Elena—
She watched as if she'd been expecting this moment all along.
The leader of the unnamed pack took a single step forward.
It wasn't a move to start a fight, but it was enough to make everyone pay attention to them.
“We didn’t come here to take,” they said.
Dorian’s expression didn’t
