Rayna POV
His gaze snapped to mine, hot and golden, and the bond pulsed hard between us - an echo of defiance, heat, hunger. I felt his wolf push against his skin the same way mine clawed inside me, restless, demanding.
“Rayna-” His tone was warning. Always warning. Always holding back.
I stepped forward, refusing to lower my eyes, refusing to yield. “I’m not a child you can shield behind your back. Not anymore.”
The air between us thickened, sharp with tension. My wolf stretched, prowling just beneath my skin, daring him to push me further. I could feel his dominance pressing against me like a wall - and for the first time, I didn’t shrink from it. I pushed back.
Lira muttered something under her breath and stepped aside, clearly realizing she wasn’t the one either of us was focused
