Rebecca

I had to shout at him to stop before I could think.

His head turned toward me. His eyes still burned. His chest lifted and fell like he held a weight that wanted to tear free. I waited for him to snap. I waited for the fire to take him. It did not. He only looked at me.

Xander coughed in the dirt. His wolves shifted behind him and watched. No one moved. The clearing felt thin and tight, like the world held its breath and did not know where to place its feet.

I ...