Ivy's POV
"Killian." Mother rushed between us, her eyes pleading as she faced me. "You can't do this."
I shook my head, the rage still burning through my veins. "Why not?" I growled, fur bristling as I stared down at Jade cowering beneath my paw.
Mother pushed me back, positioning herself as a shield. The movement forced me to step aside, bringing me next to Astrid who watched the confrontation with tired eyes.
"She's been unstable since returning," Astrid explained quietly, her gaze fixed on me. "I don't blame her. She finally shifted into her alpha aura, and your hormones have pushed her to the breaking point. Then there's me—she's been handling my grief over my mate while preventing me from claiming him."
"Astrid?" I turned to truly look at her. Her condition shocked me—patches of fur missing, exhaustion evident in every line of her body.
