"Diablo," she said. "That's what he called you."
"It's a nickname," Thessian said. "From when I used to fight here."
She turned. "You fought at Marco's gym?"
"Years ago. Before I became Alpha. When I needed to... let the wolf out in controlled ways." He looked around the apartment, memories clearly surfacing. "This place was a refuge when pack politics got too heavy. Where I could just be violent without consequence, where strength mattered more than lineage or tradition."
"And Marco kept your secret."
"Always. He's one of maybe three humans who know what I am and haven't tried to exploit it." Thessian moved to one of the bedrooms, checking it out. "You should shower. Get clean. I'll do the same after you're done. Then we need to eat, rest, and figure out our next move."
Liora nodded, suddenly aware of how filthy she was, covered in dirt and smoke and dried blood. The adrenaline had kept her from noticing, but now exhaustion was crashing over her like a wave.
