This isn’t right. This isn’t how you treat someone seeking sanctuary.
“Move.” The guard shoves Jericho’s shoulder.
My wolf surges. Not subtle. Violent protest that slams against my ribs.
No. Wrong. Protect.
“He was promised sanctuary.” The words escape before I can stop them.
Viktor’s gaze cuts to me. “The Council is reconsidering, given recent developments.” His tone is stony.
“Recent developments?” I stare at him.
Reconsidering.
They’re reconsidering sanctuary. Questioning whether he can be trusted. But why? He hasn’t done anything wrong.
“We lost good men in that convoy attack, Nadia.” His expression is grim.
“I know,” I reply. “But that wasn’t Jericho’s fault, Viktor. That was Syndicate.”
“He’s Syndicate, too.” Viktor’s jaw tenses. “How do we know he wasn’t in on it?”
I stare at him for a second. “Why would he do that? Ask for sanctuary just so he could get some guards killed?”
“They weren’t just guards, Nadia. Those were our people. Men with ties to our community. Family. We lost them.”
I ease out a breath, feeling chastised. “I realize that. I’m sorry. I never intended to…” I exhale again. “It wasn’t Jericho’s fault. He’s just as much a victim as they were. If I hadn’t been there, he would have died with the others.” The thought makes my wolf flinch.
“I appreciate your reasoning.” Viktor remains unmoved. “But the fact remains that things have changed. And until we know exactly what we’re dealing with, he will be treated as a hostile.”
My hands clench into fists. The wrongness intensifies with every step the guards take, walking Jericho across the courtyard toward the detention block. Two flanking him. One behind. The lead guard’s grip on his arm is unforgiving.
My wolf throws herself against my control. Snarling. Demanding I move. Demanding that I stop them. Demanding that I shift and fight these guards who are treating him like—
Like an enemy. Not a defector. Not someone seeking protection. An enemy being contained.
They’re twenty feet away now. Then further. Moving toward the entrance to the detention level. Taking him underground, where I won’t see him. Won’t know if he’s okay. Won’t be able to—
Pain cuts through my chest. Sharp and sudden. Not injury. Something worse.
This is wrong. Everything about this is wrong.
I should follow. Should stay with him. Should make sure they honor the sanctuary they promised. My feet move before I can stop them. One step toward him.
Viktor’s hand closes around my upper arm. “Frost.” There’s warning in the single word.
I freeze. Jericho glances back. Just once. Our eyes meet across the courtyard. His expression is carefully neutral, but I see the tension in his shoulders. See the way his jaw tightens. Then he’s through the door. Gone. Disappeared into Aurora’s detention system.
And I’m standing here shaking with the effort of not following. Of not shifting and fighting my way through guards to get to him. Of not doing something catastrophically stupid because my wolf is convinced—
Convinced of what?
Not the heat cycle. Not proximity. Not biology that I can rationalize away.
My wolf recognizeshim. Has recognized him since the moment I set eyes on him. Since the first moment he touched me, something changed.
Now, watching them take him feels like losing Chance all over again. That rope snapping. Falling with nothing to catch me.
