Lucian's pov
Killian approached with Mina a step behind. His expression wasn't his usual calm control, I looked tighter, like he had been holding something in for too long.
"I've been meaning to talk to you," he began, dropping his voice. "Since...the mountain. But things have been chaotic and I can't delay it anymore."
I felt the prickle of irritation. "If this is about the resource allocation for the Enforcers—"
"It isn't," he cut me off. He turned his body fully toward Elara. "Lucian, let me finish."
I clamped my mouth shut. The Alpha in me wanted to snap at the interruption, but the brother in me saw the genuine weight in his shoulders.
"Elara," he said softly. "I abandoned you. In that mountain, when the chaos broke, I failed to ensure you were secured. As the Commander of the Black Enforcers, it is my duty to protect everyone under the pack. To have left you behind... it's an insult to my position. It's a stain on my honor."
I started to protest, "Killian—"
