The silence inside the luxury sedan was thick, broken only by the smooth hum of the tires against the asphalt. As we drove away from the boutique, I could feel Clara’s gaze on me. Through the rearview mirror, I watched her jaw clench, her knuckles turning white as her grip on the steering wheel tightened.
Finally, she let out a long, heavy sigh that vibrated with suppressed Lycan aggression.
"Miss Elena," Clara began, her voice tight.
"Why didn't you command me to step in? I was right there. While those... those people were mistreating you, I could have snapped their necks in an instant if you had just given the order."
I looked out the window, watching the city skyline blur past, and a soft, bitter smile touched my lips. "Thank you, Clara. But I didn't want you to."
Clara glanced at
