Page 211 of The Werewolf’s Wrong Mate

“You said it yourself. The pack knows what I am.”

“The pack knows what you can do. That is not the same thing.”

I looked at her then.

Sava’s face was lined with fatigue and fury. “You are good, Ian.”

A sharp breath left me.

“Don’t,” I said.

“Yes. You are good. Loyal in a way this pack has taken advantage of for years. Controlled when lesser wolves would have called violence instinct and congratulated themselves. Terrifying, yes. Dangerous, absolutely. I have threatened to drug you more than once and meant it every time. But you are not just a weapon because other people only feel safe when they know where to point you.”

The binding warmed toward the bathroom but I shut it down.

Sava saw the effort. Her eyes narrowed.

“That human woman,” she said quietly, “didn’t turn you into something weak. She gave you a place to show what was already there.”

I looked away.

“You chose restraint with her. Again and again. You chose care when the bond was screaming possession. You chose to step back when you wanted to stand over her. You chose to ask when every old law told you taking was your right. Do not let Evelyn name that corruption because she knows nothing else.”

The ache in my chest spread until breathing felt dangerous.

“You do not know what I am going to do,” I said.

“I know you are planning to give Cassie a life you do not expect to share.”

I closed my eyes. Sava whispered my name like a curse and a prayer.

“I will not let them kill her,” I said.

“I know.”

“I will not let them kill her family.”

“I know.”

“I will not let Silas live.”

“That one I will not argue.”

I opened my eyes.

Sava was crying. Only a little. Sava was too stubborn for more. The tears stood bright and furious, refusing to fall.

“That leaves you,” she said.

“There is no me after this.”

“There could be.”

“No.”

“You do not know that.”

“I do.”