The pack house had grown quiet, the tension of preparation giving way to an eerie stillness. Dale sat near the fireplace, his eyes fixed on the dancing and flickering flames. The wood beneath crackled, sending tiny ember sparks behind the guard.
Juke joined him, sitting close enough for their knees to touch. “You’ve been quiet,” he said, taking Dale’s hand and leaning his head on Dale’s shoulder, breathing in his scent.
“I’m scared,” Dale said, his voice hushed. “Not just of Arif, but... of what’s happening to me. What if I can’t control it? What if my being here hurts more people? What happened at the council chamber still haunts me. I don’t want to watch your people suffer because of me. I’m a liability.”
Juke’s hold on Dale’s hand tightened his grip firm and grounding. “You’re not a liability, Dale. What happened at the council chambers is all on Arif for coveting what's not his. The blame lies in his greed and selfishness—if it weren’t you, he would have some other reason to do wh
