Rules were meant to test strength... and loyalty.
Darius was waiting when I stepped out of the private chamber. He'd managed to stay outside like I'd asked, but his wolf was barely contained. Gold eyes burned bright, jaw tight with controlled fury.
"What did they say?" he demanded.
"Threats. Warnings. The usual attempt at intimidation."
"That's not nothing."
"I didn't say it was nothing. Just that it's what I expected."
Through the bond, his emotions crashed over me. Protective rage mixed with fear mixed with helpless frustration that he couldn't eliminate threats with simple violence.
I touched his arm, trying to ground him. "I'm fine. Really."
"You're not fine. They isolated you, pressured you, probably made veiled threats about everyone you care about."
"Not veiled. Pretty direct actually."
His wolf snarled. "I should have gone in there with you."
"And proved I can't handle myself? That I need constant protection? That's exactly what they want."
