Esme leaned back just enough to search his face, her brows drawing together in confusion at his unexpected question.
"W– what do you mean?" she asked softly, her voice faltering. "I don't have–" she stopped herself and drew in a slow breath, then she tried again. "There's still no proof that I do have one, nothing solid at least. And even if I did… why would my wolf hate you? You and I are bonded, and that's not something that can be undone. But why are you asking?"
Donovan remained silent.
Esme couldn't understand where that question came from, but his silence unsettled her most. The moment became still, and charged with something ancient. Then, she saw it; a shimmer, faint but not mistakable, glinting like firelight in his eyes. The shade of his eyes were glowing, and her breath caught when she realized his wolf was rising again.
"Don?" She whispered his name, sounding worried and more wary of the unsettling change. "Are you alright?"
