Ellie's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing at Eberhard. "No," he said firmly, his voice carrying an edge that cut through Nikki's murmurs. "I'm not leaving him like this. I'm his Beta. I should be the one to watch over him. That is my duty."
Eberhard's brows snapped together, his lips curling into a snarl. "Ellie..."
"I know what you're trying to do, Eberhard." Ellie cut him off. His gaze stayed fixed on Ares, who twisted and grunted in pain, sweat dripping down his temples. "But he's not yours to hand over. He needs me here, and I'm not leaving his side. I'll guard him until he wakes up."
Nikki's head jerked up, her eyes flashing, but then she forced herself to exhale, voice smoothing over with false calm. "This is not the time to argue, Ellie. The Alpha doesn't need that now… he needs me." She clutched Ares' arm tighter as if to prove her point, her fingers digging into his skin.
"What he needs is a good rest. He'll be just fine," Ellie said, tone sharp.
