ulian kept staring at me. His eyes didn't blink, like he was weighing every breath I took. Then he closed them, just for a second. When he opened them again, the tension around him shifted. The heat drained away, leaving something colder. Controlled.
"It's because Lewis took my position," he said calmly. "I couldn't accept it. That's why I lost control."
Jeffrey's face hardened, disappointment clear in his eyes.
"Julian," he said, "your health is still unstable. Lewis stepped in because the pack needed stability. He's handled things well. Once you recover, you'll still have a place."
His words were firm, but not cruel. He still cared. Julian had always been the one chosen, trained, prepared. The heir everyone expected to lead.
"This was my fault," he said suddenly, turning to Jeffrey and James. "I drank too much at the Morrigans'. I lost control. Riley only reacted on instinct. Don't blame her."
I stiffened.
Drank too much? At that dinner?
