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“In this pack, people notice everything.”

She smiled. “Sloane already knows how intrusive we are.”

“That’s not the only issue.”

Julie’s attention sharpened. “What else?”

I glanced at Caldwell. He’d moved to another page and no longer appeared interested in us, though that didn’t mean he wasn’t listening.

“She’s part of the pack. Everyone treats her like family. I don’t want her to feel cornered.”

Julie’s hand became still. I continued before she could respond.

“Look what happened in your old pack. The alpha’s son decided wanting you meant you would eventually agree. He kept asking after you refused him. He turned every gathering into pressure. Everyone expected you to give in because of who he was.”

The room went utterly silent. Even Jason lowered his phone. Julie’s face didn’t change much, but I saw the old pain flickering in her eyes.

“I’m going to be alpha one day,” I said. “If I pursue Sloane, she might worry that saying no will affect her place here. She’s been away for years and is only just beginning to reconnect with everyone. I won’t become another alpha’s son who treats his position as leverage.”

Julie pulled away. For a second, I thought I had upset her. Then she walked around the island and wrapped both arms around me.

I had been taller than her since I was fourteen, but she still hugged me with the same complete commitment she had offered when I was an angry teenager pretending affection embarrassed me.

I wrapped my arms around her.

“You are nothing like him,” she said against my shoulder.

I closed my eyes.

“You hear me?” she continued. “Nothing.”

“I know. I’m not trying to⁠—”

“It’s not only about what you’re trying or not trying to do.” She drew back enough to look at me. “He never cared whether I felt safe. He cared whether he won. He heard no and decided it meant he should try harder to convince me.”

“I would never do that.”

“Exactly. You think about how your choices affect people before you make them. Sometimes too much. You give others space. You listen when they hesitate. You accept boundaries even when they disappoint you.”

The memory of the near-kiss returned. Sloane pulling away. The apology in her eyes. My decision not to question her until she was ready.

Julie must have read enough in my face to understand.

“Did Sloane try to distance herself from you?” she asked.

I nodded.

“And what did you do?”

“Walked her to the car.”

“Did you pressure her to explain?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“Did you punish her with silence?”

“No.”