The status of men in the Griffiths family ranked somewhere below contemptible. For generations, not one had been allowed to cross the threshold of the council hall. Cole’s intrusion wasn’t merely a violation of protocol—it was nothing short of blasphemy.
Cole radiated raw, untamed masculine power, his face carved from stone and fury. His presence instantly obliterated the delicate feminine atmosphere and ripped the peaceful scene to shreds.
The Griffiths women, spanning generations, froze in collective shock.
Elliana, however, felt satisfaction curl at the corners of her mouth. Clearly, Cole had heard everything from beyond those doors. He’d come to wage this war on their daughter’s behalf.
“The nerve!” one woman spat.
“A man violating the council…”
“Hall? Even Griffiths men are barred from entering, much less some outsider! This disrespect is staggering!”
“Does he imagine that being the leader’s husband grants him permission to trample our customs?” another snapped, her voice razor-sharp.
“We cannot and will not tolerate this insolence! Remove him this instant!”
A more measured voice cut through.
“He’s the head of the Evans clan and the leader of the Blaze Wraith. Physically expelling him won’t be straightforward. And he is our leader’s husband. Some measure of respect is due.”
“So we simply stand aside while he crushes our traditions beneath his heel?”
“He’s Sophie’s son! Someone fetch her to rein him in! Where has Sophie gone?”
Near the edge of the gathering, Sophie and Aubrie locked eyes, their expressions mirroring shock. They were as blindsided as everyone else, but they harbored zero desire to intervene. On the contrary, they were absolutely delighted to witness Cole like this—commanding, fearless, magnificently dominant. To them, he’d never looked more devastatingly attractive.
When her name rang out, Sophie immediately shrank backward, desperate to vanish into the shadows.
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Cole walked into the council hall like a storm in human form, paying no mind to the curious stares or hushed whispers that followed him. His every step carried purpose. He was here for one reason—his daughter. The air seemed to grow colder around him, his presence heavy with arrogance and authority.
Before anyone could even locate Sophie, Cole was already beside Anita, sweeping Beatrice out of her arms in one swift, fluid motion.
The possessive fire in his eyes and the unyielding way he held his daughter left Anita and everyone else frozen.
Cole cradled Beatrice close, his expression hard as stone as he glared at the crowd. Then, like sunlight breaking through frost, his face softened when he looked down at Beatrice’s tiny face. As if on cue, Beatrice broke into a sweet, innocent, and utterly disarming smile.
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.
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