Amelia's POV
Something wasn't right.
Julian had never looked at me like that before.
The moment he saw Avery, something in him shifted. His usual composed and unshakable demeanor wavered, if only slightly, but I caught it. The way his eyes lingered on her, the way his stance subtly changed, the way his attention, which I had tried so hard to make mine, drifted toward her.
I clenched my fists, nails pressing into my palms. It wasn't even subtle; he was talking to her, declaring to protect her, and even having a standoff with the alpha of the Bloodmoon pack because of her.
He continued to ignore him as I tried to gain clarity on what was happening.
I had spent weeks by Julian's side, observing him, understanding his every move, every glance, every breath. He was never an
