Evander's POV
When Claire proudly declared in front of everyone that I was her husband, something inside me shifted. My heart raced uncontrollably, pounding so hard I thought it might burst. For a moment, the room, the tension, and even the prying eyes of strangers faded away.
I couldn't take my eyes off her. The way she stood there, fierce and unwavering, defending us—defending me—ignited something raw within me. It wasn't just pride; it was something deeper that I almost buried inside me, but now... after her appearance, it started to come out once again.
I wanted to grab her, pull her into my arms, and take her far away from this mess. To hold her, to kiss her until neither of us could breathe until the world around us no longer mattered.
