Kolton's fingers closed around Kimi's arm, spinning her to face him with a force that made her stumble. His grip was firm, unyielding. "I'm not going anywhere."
The raw desperation in Kimi's voice cut through the tension between them. "You have to understand - I can't just walk away from everything. This pack is my home, my responsibility. I belong here, Kolton. I-"
"Then let me fix that problem for you." His interruption was sharp, calculated. "I'll take control of this pack. Problem solved."
The blood drained from Kimi's face. Four years ago, she would have laughed at such an audacious claim. But this wasn't the same Kolton who had left her behind. This was Alpha Kolton - the warrior who had conquered territories and commanded respect through sheer force of will.
The memory of his conversation with Kirk suddenly crashed over her like a cold wave. Kolton had waged war because of her. The realization made her throat tighten.
