ROMAN
I watched Vanessa's face as we pulled away from the Council building. She was pale—too pale—her skin almost translucent against the black leather seat. Her eyes stared blankly ahead, unfocused. In shock.
I knew that look. I'd seen it on packmates who'd lost everything in territory wars.
"Let me take you back to the hotel," I said, keeping my voice gentle despite the rage still boiling under my skin.
She didn't respond at first, just continued staring through the windshield. When she finally nodded, the movement was so slight I almost missed it.
The protective instinct surging through me was nearly overwhelming. I wanted to hunt down Wesley Sterling, to tear into Seraphina with my bare hands, to make Marcus kneel for his betrayal. But those impulses would have to wait.
Vanessa needed me now. Everything else was secondary.
