"He believes her. He's on her side." She wanted to completely destroy Riven's hope in the King. He does not deserve someone as loyal as this wolf.
His eyes stared at the ground, unfocused. Slowly, as if all life was draining from him, Riven's posture wilted. Shoulders slumped. His tail curled close to him, ears flattening completely. In that moment, it looked like something inside him had died.
Theresa reached through the bars, hand outstretched, intending to take his hand—to comfort, to tether him to her. But Riven flinched back as though burned, pulling his hand away so quickly that it startled her. His green eyes lifted, glassy with tears, staring at her as if she'd suddenly become a stranger.
Theresa's frown was brief—barely a flicker—but it was there. A tightening of the lips. She quickly smoothed it over with a look of hurt concern. "Riven…" she whispered, as if his withdrawal wounded her deeply.
