{Ronan’s POV}

The air in the chamber pressed against me, thick with expectation and unease.

Every wolf gathered here stared at Lisa like she was some spectacle on display, like she wasn’t my mate, my wife, the woman carrying my child.

Their whispers slithered across the floor, poisoning the joy that had been here moments ago. And now the Elders wanted to test her. To prod at her like she was some curious animal they had found in the woods. ‘Absolutely not.’

I stood in front of her, my arm spread out as though I could shield her from the entire room. “You will not put her through anything. Not...