Chapter 19

The halls of the packhouse were quieter now. The echoes of Kaden’s earlier confrontation with Victor still lingered in the air, and Althea could feel the tension clinging to the walls like a bad memory. She walked beside Kaden, her limp slowing her steps as she struggled to keep up with his confident stride. “Slow down,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Kaden immediately adjusted his pace, his silver eyes flicking to hers with a soft expression that contrasted with the sharp authority he’d shown just moments ago. “Sorry,” he said, his tone gentler now. “Didn’t mean to rush you.” “I know,” Althea replied, her fingers twisting nervously in her dress. She could still feel the eyes of the pack on her, the weight of their judgment pressing down on her shoulders. Kaden must have noticed the tension in her posture because his hand moved to the small of her back, a steadying presence that made her pulse race. “Stop listening to them,” he murmured. “They don’t matter.” Althea