Hailee's POV
For a long moment, no one moved. The crowd watched in silence, waiting to see what would happen.
Montana still stood there, her sword raised, her smirk widening. "What's wrong?" she called out, her voice loud and full of mockery. "Too afraid to face me?"
The people around her laughed quietly.
I felt my jaw tighten.
Before I could answer, Callum stood up beside me. His voice was calm but firm—the kind that carried power even without shouting. "Hailee doesn't need to prove herself to anyone," he said.
He stepped forward, eyes locked on Montana. "This is a festival, not a battleground. Enough games."
But Montana didn't lower her sword. Instead, she tilted her head, her smile widening. "Oh, come now, Alpha," she said sweetly, though her tone dripped with venom. "I'm only having a little fun. Unless…" She turned her eyes to me again, her grin cruel. "Unless your guest really can't fight."
The crowd gasped softly.