The Claws nodded.
“Good.” Hiro twisted the lollipop between his fingers. “Nyomi fed me this morning. Eggs Benedict. We cooked together.”
Daisuke snorted.
Hiro raised his eyebrows.
Daisuke cleared his throat and pursed his lips.
Hiro licked the lollipop. “The food was good. Really good.”
The twins exchanged awkward glances.
“For the first time since Nura died. . .I slept without a nightmare.”
Silence.
Complete, absolute silence came.
Next, the Claws' body language shifted.
Kaede's gloved hands unfolded on the table.
Acceptance.
Daisuke put his gaze on me and it actually held respect.
She's not a threat.
Toma's grin became genuine and he even gave me a friendly nod.
Welcome to the Claws.
The twins' synchronized tilt stopped. For once, they weren't mirrors. Aki's hand moved to his throat—just above his scar—while Yuki's fingers curled into a fist on the table. Two different reactions to the same relief: their captain could finally rest.
The shift in the room was so sudden it left me dizzy.
One second: hostile assessment, wolves deciding if I was prey.
Next second: full acceptance due to their alpha, the pack making room for a new member.
I dragged in a breath—deep, full, the first one that didn't feel like it was being squeezed through a straw. I was glad I had passed whatever test the Claws had been giving me. . .because of Hiro.
My hands, still hidden in my lap, finally unclenched. Part of me still couldn’t believe I was here—trusted, protected, tested. The other part knew I’d earned this seat, and that scared me more than anything.
I raised one hand, took out the lollipop, looked at Hiro, and kept my voice low. "Thank you."
“No. Thank you. . .”
I grinned.
Reo stood.
The room went silent again, but this time the energy was different.
Focused.
Ready.
