Nikki blinked, momentarily stunned by his harshness, then frowned. "I'm just saying what everyone's thinking," she muttered under her breath, voice barely above a whisper.
Eberhard exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You never think before you speak," he said, his tone low but firm, heavy with disappointment. "Just because the hallway's empty doesn't mean no one's listening. With our kind's hearing, you should know better."
Nikki bit back a retort, jaw tightening, a faint flush creeping up her neck. Lyra and Lena exchanged uneasy glances but wisely kept silent, heads slightly bowed.
They had only a few feet to the Alpha's door when Eberhard suddenly stopped, forcing the others to halt abruptly. Lyra almost collided with him, but Lena's quick reflexes caught her arm, pulling her back just in time.
"Father?" Nikki asked, her brows knitting in confusion. "Why are we stopping?"
