Roman was no longer listening. The sounds around him—Williams' tense voice, the distant hum of the city beyond the dense woods, the rustle of trees in the wind—all faded into a meaningless hum. It was as though a thick, black fog had settled in his mind, drowning everything in silence.
His chest heaved as if he were drowning. His hands were clenched, bloodied, and trembling. His head was bowed, his form crouched low to the forest floor. The sharp scent of iron from Tessy's blood tainted the air, choking him. He was shaking so violently his limbs threatened to give way, but he couldn't feel any of it.
Pain and fury had all blurred into one consuming sensation, forcing him to retreat into himself while giving Lazer, his wolf, a way to take over without stress.
