rs of discussion, I tried to listen but I was

a

was in trouble. Should I ask her to come over? Maybe it was a bad idea, not

was off. I c

but he hadn't returned yet. And as the seconds ticked by, a gna

ention was split. My eyes kept flashing to the door, and my senses st

I'd stood up until I w

alled, pulling me

's expressions filled with curi

thinking. "Continue the mee

oving, the tension in my muscles was increasi

er, Lara's...hit me first. It was faint but un

fe

to send a chil

walking into, but I kne

ont of her, blocking her way. He was leaning in, speaking softly

rin curled at the corners of his lips. But w

ose himself and act normal. "I was

gerous. My body was already moving before the words lef

ion changed into something more dangerous. "What, is she your li

was standing a few feet away, her body was tense

at something had happened between her

t I could feel the darkness in him, and I didn't like it. He might not have bee

I asked, in a low growl

ainst my nerves. "Nothing much. Just ha

narrowing as I took a step toward him.

you, Dimitri. You're letting a broken, rejected omega int

o rip his throat out gnawing at the edges of

e silence, shaking but fier

erability in her gaze. She wasn't used to being defended. But I wa

d quietly, but my g

her eyes to Matthias, then back to me

with something I couldn't quite place. "I didn't ask for your protecti

But you didn't have much choice, did you? Running to Dim

ugh the tension like a blade. "This ends n

eyes now, something calculating. "Careful, Dimitri. You don't know what you're dealing with. Lara's not just s

ns. But it wasn't just her. Something about the way Matthias spoke m

't going t

y men were close. I could feel them behind me, the tension in the air

uriating, mocking smirk. "You sure you want to protect her, D

harp shove, I pushed him aside. He stumbled but didn't f

breath

in that moment, so fragile, and yet I knew she wasn't. I could feel t

gentle voice, but the words were

, her gaze flickered to Matt

but the tremor in he

es, but I also saw something e

protective instincts

coldly, turning to

ent challenge in his eyes, but

one wit

't going to get in the way of that. And I w