~ CASIMIR ~
The morning those we were taking to the City left the catacombs was an exercise in sheer will that I had not experienced in years.
We were surrounded and shadowed by dozens of wolves. And still, I had to fight not to grasp Jesse and roar at her to go back, not to gather the guards around the two of us and to hell with the rest, not to hold her belly and weep into her beautiful breasts at the fear of what might be on the horizon.
But giving in to fear was not how an Alpha led.
My father had been an evil fucker, but he hadn't been wrong about that.
So, I allowed myself the indulgence of gripping my mate's hand at all times on the journey- at times, to the point of pain- but kept my voice low, my eyes on the wolves around us, and forced myself to stay focused on the task at hand. And I prayed none of them could sense my unease.