The exchange breaks a little of the tension, laughter fizzing through the air like sparks from kindling. But even laughter feels dangerous in this room because it dances too close to the fire.
Darien's patience finally breaks, suffocated by all the banters. He straightens, rolls his shoulders back, and lets silence settle calmly. His gaze sharpens into that Alpha cut, and the three other wolves instinctively still, probably because the subject of the matter is Heidi. The fireplace crackles behind him, painting his face in flickers of amber and shadow.
He decides to stop circling and go straight to the throat. "Alright," he clears his throat, hands on his waist. "Enough of this. Amias, first—good luck and congratulations on digging your own pit. But that's not even why I called you all here."
Amias's brow furrows. "Excuse me?"
Darien's eyes flash gold for a heartbeat. "Heidi's in danger."
The words hit feel to the rest like a stone has been thrown at them.
