DAMIEN

“Did you fucking see her break?”

My voice was a whip. “Right in front of us, Ralph. She shattered—and you just stood there. Bleeding like your guilt wasn’t screaming louder than any howl.”

Ralph’s jaw locked the muscle ticking. His eyes—flat, stormy, ashamed—finally met mine.

“They weren’t supposed to be alone,” he said, voice low and rough. “I left them with guards. With pack members. I left them safe.”

I snarled. “Then you either trusted the wrong bastards... or you’re the coward who let her bleed because looking in her eyes meant facing what you failed to protect.”

His hand curled into a tight fist.

“Say it again,” he...