The courtyard had long since emptied, though the scent of smoke still clung to the night air. Inside the Alpha’s chambers, Elias sat on the edge of the bed, hands clenched tight. He could still feel their stares—the doubt in their eyes.
He flinched when Kieran closed the door.
“They’re wrong.” Kieran’s voice was low, steady, the kind he used to quiet storms. “Every last one of them. You’d never betray me, Elias. Never.”
Elias forced a laugh, but it came out thin. “Funny how quickly loyalty can be questioned, isn’t it?”
Kieran crossed the room in two strides, kneeling in front of him. His large hands covered Elias’s fists, prying them open gently. “Let them whisper. Let them doubt. I don’t care.” His eyes burned with conviction. “Because I know you. I’ve known you since we were pups run
