Ava’s POV
Before I could even react, a blur of motion surged toward us, fast enough that even my wolf barely tracked it.
It was Richard.
He stepped in front of me without hesitation, his body positioning itself as a shield.
“Back off,” Richard said, his voice low but firm. “Watch what you say, or I’ll sue you for slander.”
For a moment, I just stared at his back. What was he doing here? Right, he was an inspector. He must have come due to the commotion that broke out.
My fingers instinctively curled around his sleeve, tugging lightly in warning, urging him to stop before he stepped into something he couldn’t get out of, but Richard didn’t budge.
His gaze remained locked on Anderson, cold and unflinching, his stance unyielding, like a wall planted firmly between us.
“Slander?” Ander
