As I moved ahead, I could feel their eyes on me, each one filled with mistrust, rage, and suspicion. There was a group of people in the area, and when they saw me coming, the whispering became louder. The weight of their charges hovered over me like a shadow, despite my best efforts to maintain my composure and ignore the knot of panic that was twisting in my gut.
Lucien stood in the middle of the throng, staring at me with a stony face and unblinking eyes. He seemed to be a strong, determined leader, but only I could see the agony in his eyes. Not only was this a test for me, but it also tested his willingness to go to great lengths to defend his pack, even if it meant placing a loved one in danger.
The stillness fell between us like a thick blanket as I came to a standstill a few paces away from him. With his eyes darting to the throng and back to me, Lucien inhaled deeply.
