Ava's POV
Anderson went quiet, his tension filling the car as he pulled over to the side of the road. The engine idled low, like a growl beneath us.
“Maria,” he said gently, glancing back, “you can ask Grandma yourself.”
“I… I’m scared…” Maria’s small voice trembled. She bit her lip, her scent spiking with sharp fear. “Uncle Anderson, I’m scared Grandma won’t want me. I’m scared Mom will go to jail. And I’m scared of going back to the orphanage…”
Her words twisted something deep in my chest. My wolf stirred, uneasy. Pups weren’t supposed to smell like fear this often.
“I’ll go with you to ask,” Anderson said.
Before he could say anything more, I leaned forward, my instincts taking over. I wiped the tears from Maria’s cheeks, careful, like she might shatter beneath my touch.
“I’ll co
