Nina
As the last of the murmurs fade, I take a shaky breath, standing straighter, trying to command what’s left of my composure. Jaxon’s words hang in the air, acidic, branding me in front of everyone as if I’d invited his possessive display. I’m humiliated, furious.
Elijah turns to me, looking visibly uncomfortable. He glances around at the lingering wolves, who are all clearly just as stunned by what they witnessed. “Nina,” he mutters, looking anywhere but directly at me, “I really should go. This… wasn’t what I expected.”
I grab his arm before he can turn away, my fingers pressing against his forearm just a bit tighter than I mean to. “Elijah, wait. We need to talk.”
He pulls back a little, his face guarded, but he stays.
I lift my chin, forcing my voice to hold that unbreakable, A
