Her expression faltered slightly.
“And what happens,” I went on, “when he leaves here?”
That caught her attention.
“This is not his permanent refuge,” I said quietly. “It cannot be.”
Her eyes softened, but she didn’t interrupt.
“He will go somewhere one day,” I continued. “Maybe somewhere no one knows him. Somewhere your name doesn’t shield him. Somewhere mine doesn’t matter.”
I leaned forward slightly.
“What happens then?”
Silence.
“If he cannot defend himself without someone stepping in,” I said, “he will fall.”
Her shoulders lowered just slightly.
“And if we punish every wolf who challenges him,” I continued, “we don’t strengthen him. We isolate him.”
The truth of that sat heavy in the air.
“He’ll be seen as protected,” I said. “Not respected.”
Faye swallowed.
“I don’t wa
