Hailee's POV
"Never happening!" the three of them thundered.
Nathan's claws slid out fully, glinting in the dim light as his wolf pressed against his skin. Callum took a step forward, his aura exploding like fire, shaking the air. Dane moved too, fists clenched, ready to tear through anyone who stood in his way. Frederick's fangs flashed, his power surging as the ground itself seemed to hum under his weight.
The walls of the room rattled. Guards rushed in but froze at the door, too afraid to take a step closer. The tension was a living thing, choking me, crushing me. They weren't listening anymore.
"No!" I cried, but my voice cracked and broke under the weight of their rage. "Please—stop!"
They didn't. Callum lunged an inch closer, Nathan growled deep in his chest, Dane raised his hand to block, and Frederick laughed low and deadly, already peeling off his coat like he meant to rip through all of them.
