Elara's POV
Samuel and I both froze.
This time, Samuel spoke first. He stepped forward, white fur already rising along his forearms, his eyes bleeding white at the edges. "You made your choice in that courtroom. You don't belong here."
I knew what came next. He was about to challenge Orion to a formal duel. I grabbed his hand and shot him a look. Not to protect Orion's pride. We both knew Samuel couldn't match him in raw strength, and I didn't want him hurt. Golden Crown was strong, but Orion's bloodline had ruled White Moon for generations. No amount of love was closing that gap tonight.
But Samuel was out of patience. He moved in on Orion anyway.
Orion didn't take the bait. That surprised me. His expression wasn't gentle, but he stood and answered evenly. "I came to see my daughter.
