So you asked about acceptance.” He touched the counter, a small circle with his fingertip. “No one here is going to question your right to be safe. A few may question mine.” He looked at her like he owed her the shortest version. “We’ve had some trouble. Betrayal from inside. I’m… sorting it. It won’t touch you. But I won’t pretend it didn’t leave some people jumpy.”
“Betrayal,” she repeated, and some old bruise in her tone showed. “I’m familiar.”
“I figured.” He didn’t push. “If people look at me like they’re waiting for me to screw up, I’m okay with that. I’m not okay with anyone making you feel unwelcome. If that happens, I deal with it.”
“By…?”
“By talking first,” he said, and the flicker of his wolf ran under his voice, low and steel-edged. “And if talking doesn’t work, by remindi
