He released my chin without warning, no force left in his hand. But the pain didn't leave with him. It stayed, burning under my skin and sinking deep into my chest like something had been torn loose. My body felt weak all over, every nerve still reacting to his grip, even after he stepped back.
I had not fully recovered from the rain earlier. My strength was already low, my body cold, my senses dull from exhaustion. When the pressure between us shifted so suddenly, my legs gave out before I could steady myself.
I fell straight into his chest.
His arms caught me instantly, strong and steady, shaped by years of training under pack discipline. I could feel the tension in his hold, the controlled strength in his body, like he was deciding whether to push me away or keep me there. I closed my eyes before either of us made that decision.
"Well, someone's gotten brave," he said coldly. "Now you even know how to collapse at the right time."
