SUPERFLUOUS

69."A FLICKER OF RESOLVE"

ONYX LEWIS STEVENSON

As the raw shame that had pricked at me began to recede, it was replaced by a nascent flicker of resolve. This wasn't just about my past anymore; it was about our future. And I wouldn't let Kaelen take this from us too.

I felt the last tremor leave my body, a deep, shuddering exhale that seemed to empty my lungs of the lingering terror. Pushing slightly away from Max's chest, I lifted my head, my eyes, still heavy-lidded and red-rimmed, meeting my Alpha's worried gaze. Max's golden eyes, though still holding a shadow of the rage that had burned moments ago, were now softened with an overwhelming tenderness.

"I'm... I'm okay," I rasped, the words feeling foreign on my dry tongue. It wasn't entirely true, but the worst of the immediate panic had passed. I could feel the steady thrum of Max's heart beneath my cheek, a powerful, calming beat.

River's hand, still a solid, comforting weight on my back, moved to gently knead the tense muscles in my shoulders. "We know it was a shock, little one," River's voice was a low murmur, close to my ear. "But you faced it. You stood your ground, even when he tried to tear you down."

I swallowed, the compliment a small comfort. I glanced around the hall, acutely aware of the lingering pack members. Their whispers had died down, replaced by a heavy, watchful silence. I could feel their gazes on me, a thousand eyes dissecting my raw vulnerability. A fresh wave of heat bloomed on my cheeks, but this time, it was tempered by the dual anchors of my mates. I was exposed, yes, but I was also undeniably held. Protected.

Max's arm tightened around me possessively. "They saw nothing but strength, Onyx," he murmured, his gaze sweeping over the pack with a subtle warning. "And they saw what happens when someone dares to threaten what is ours." The low growl in Max's chest was a silent promise of retribution, a clear message to anyone who might misinterpret my moment of vulnerability as weakness.

River's scent, a grounding mix of honeycomb and vanilla, wrapped around us, reinforcing the protective bubble Max had created. "Let's go home, love," River said softly, his voice meant for me alone. "We need to talk, but not here."

I nodded, my body still heavy but my mind beginning to clear. The grand hall, with its lingering scent of ozone and fear, its hushed, observing crowd, suddenly felt too vast, too open. I craved the enclosed safety of our shared space, the walls that held our warmth and intimacy. I needed to be somewhere I could truly process, without the eyes of the pack watching every shaky breath.