Damien stood tall, his presence subduing the spirit of everyone on the field. Internally, his wolf was howling, clawing at his chest to go to her. Up to now, Damien couldn't understand why his wolf loved Sofia this much.
"Go defend her," his wolf urged.
But Damien knew he couldn't. He was surrounded by warriors who knew Sofia had betrayed their pack by killing her sister. If he showed even a slight hint of softness, his leadership would be questioned.
He forced his expression to turn into a deep frown. He looked at Kael, then flicked his gaze to Sofia.
"How dare you strike a warrior of this pack," Damien said, his voice loud with rage, carrying across the yard.
Sofia's eyes widened, her heart sinking. "He touched me, Alpha Damien. He insulted me. I was just—"
"You are a servant!" Damien roared, cutting her off. He saw her flinch, and it felt like a dagger to his soul. "A servant does not raise a hand against a protector of the realm, regardless of the provocation."
