Ellie’s POV
Ethan looked so angry, I thought he might explode. His chest moved up and down fast, like he was holding everything in. I got scared the Elders would notice his beast and use it as an excuse to take him too.
I stepped in front of him and grabbed his arm.
“Ethan, please,” I said quietly. “Don’t let them win.”
He must’ve seen the scars—the way his gaze lingered, just a second too long, his expression flickering with something close to pain. It wasn’t pity. It was deeper. Like he was carrying the weight of them too.
His hands were clenched into fists.
“They’ve already done enough,” he muttered. “If they touch you again…”
“I get it,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “But if you lose control now, we both lose.”
I looked at Ethan and tried to tell him with my eyes
