The speed at which public opinion shifted sent a cold shiver down Kelly's spine.
Aster City had been on edge for weeks now with humans and werewolves snapping at each other over every little thing, and she could feel that tension coiling tight in the air. One moment, the crowd had been thrilled, and entertained by the fight, the next, that feeling had turned deadly.
Their eyes were on Ken.
Kelly knew that look and what came next.
"You all saw what happened!" she shouted, stepping forward before fear could paralyze her. "Noah attacked first, both of them!" Her finger jabbed toward the injured werewolf still writhing on the ground, his bones struggling to knit back together. "Ken didn't start this!"
She planted herself in front of Ken without thinking, her arms spreading slightly as if her body alone could shield him from the crowd that was beginning to close in.
"It was self-defense!" she declared, her voice shaking but loud. "He had no choice!"
