Darien closes his eyes, feeling the truth in that. Protecting her means swallowing his pride, maybe even apologizing to his brothers which is a thought that makes him want to punch a wall. Still, he'll do it. He has to.
When he finally steps out of the shower, steam fills the mirror. He wipes a hand across it, revealing his reflection, and sees the water dripping from his jawline, the faint scars across his collarbone catching the light. He looks... tired, maybe. But determined.
He towels off, dresses in a black shirt and dark trousers, the kind his mother insists "reflects dignity." His sleeves are rolled to the elbow, revealing the wolf sigil tattoo on his forearm. The Alpha's mark. The thing he's spent his whole life proving he deserves.
He ties his hair back loosely at the nape of his neck, runs a hand down his front, and exhales.
