{ Avina }
“It’s the truth,” I insisted, my voice rising slightly. “He wanted me to be safe. I don’t have a wolf. I can’t shift like others can. That makes me vulnerable, and he—”
“Your parents’ names,” Dutton interrupted, his voice sharp. “Full names.”
The sudden shift threw me. “Thomas Sinclair and Elara Sinclair,” I said quickly. “They’ve lived in the east for twenty years, maybe more. They came from—”
“Your brother’s name.”
It wasn’t a question. It was a command.
“Jace,” I whispered. “His name was Jace Sinclair.” The change was instantaneous. Subtle, but unmistakable.
Dutton’s expression didn’t shift—not exactly. His jaw tightened. His shoulders tensed.
His gaze sharpened, boring into me with renewed intensity, and I watched as the pieces clicked into place behind those cold red
