I nodded, my fingers tightening briefly around Wane’s hand, ready to follow him without another thought.
But Emily’s expression shifted.
It was subtle—so subtle most people would’ve missed it. The corners of her lips stiffened, her smile faltering as something like hesitation crept into her eyes. Then she inhaled slowly, as if steeling herself, and turned to Wane with a look of carefully sculpted concern.
“Wane…” she said softly. “You’re a male werewolf.”
The way she said it—gentle, almost apologetic—made my instincts prickle.
“And right now,” she continued, her voice lowering, “that’s exactly what Ava fears most. If she realizes you’re nearby, she could panic. Maybe even break down completely. Her emotions are fragile. Unstable.”
Her gaze flicked to me, then back to him, her brows k
