Darius' POV
"Nobody should come close." My voice came out rough, protectively. My mate was injured, she was vulnerable. No one else was supposed to be near her.
My mother gave me a sharp look.
"Look," she said firmly, "I'm trying to clean her wounds, okay? She's bleeding way too much. We have to do something before the healer gets here."
"I said—"
"I get it," she interrupted, her voice rising. "You're getting all Alpha, but this is to help her. So relax, Darius. Relax."
I clenched my jaw. My wolf hated seeing someone else's hands touch Soraya in this state. But she was right. My mate needed care, not my possessive instincts.
Mom moved closer and knelt beside the bed. She dipped the cloth in the bowl and began wiping the blood gently from Soraya's cheek. "Shh… it's ok
