(Kieran POV)
The responses were exactly what I'd expected—a mixture of acceptance, wariness, and calculation that spoke to the various relationships and power structures that governed pack life. Those who'd known me longest, who'd watched me carry the isolation of unmated leadership for decades, showed relief that was almost palpable.
Marcus stepped forward first, his injured arm not preventing him from offering the kind of formal nod that acknowledged both acceptance and submission to alpha authority. "She fought beside us," he said simply. "Bled for the pack. That makes her ours, regardless of species."
Elena's support came with typical directness: "Anyone who can handle Marcus's whining about his injuries deserves whatever happiness she can find." The comment drew scattered laughter,
