"Say that again," Nathan growled, his voice rough and edged with something feral. His eyes flickered between red and molten gold, the shift uneven and unstable, as if his wolf were clawing its way to the surface, fighting against the last threads of restraint he had left.
The tension in his body was obvious, coiled tight like a predator on the verge of snapping, ready to lose control at the slightest provocation.
Maddison jolted in shock, her body nearly springing back as Nathan's sudden appearance shattered her thoughts. For a split second, panic flashed across her face, but she quickly forced it down, pulling herself together as if nothing had happened.
Instead, she lowered her gaze and let her expression crumble, tears welling as she clung to the role she knew best. Crouched on the ground while Nathan loomed over her, the contrast alone made her look fragile, pitiful, and exactly how she wanted to appear.
