POV: Aphrodite
The silence after battle feels heavier than the fight itself.
Kade and his patrol have retreated to the tree line, bloodied but not broken. They're regrouping, reassessing, probably debating whether to attempt another assault. My Direwolf presence still fills the clearing, making the air thick and hard to breathe for anyone not used to this level of power.
Being feared hurts more than being hated.
I can see it in the eyes of the younger wolves who were forced to their knees. They're not looking at me with contempt anymore. They're looking at me with terror. Like I'm something monstrous, something that shouldn't exist.
Maybe they're right.
The twins are still flanking me, ready for round two if it comes. But I step forward before they can speak, before they can position themselves as my shields again. This is my fight. My declaration. My choice.
