Before I could react further, Lorenz lunged with the speed of a wolf, scooping Emily into his arms. His growl was low, tense, primal. “Call an ambulance! She’s burned—this is serious!”
Pain lanced along my arm, but his amber gaze didn’t even flick toward me. In that moment, to him, only Emily existed—his mate, his chosen. The exclusion cut me sharper than the embers.
I sat frozen, instinctively brushing at the stinging burns, feeling the wolfish tension in my muscles—the awareness of being sidelined, invisible to the alpha. The waiter, rushing to help, noticed my discomfort. “Mrs. Reyes, are you okay? Do you need help?”
I opened my mouth, but Lorenz’s voice rang, low and commanding, brushing Emily’s hair back as if claiming her entirely. “Make sure she’s taken care of immediately.”
The waiter froze, unsure how to respond. I forced a small, bitter smile. “I’m fine. Please—help her first.”
Lorenz shot me a sharp, dismissive glance. “Toni, if you’re hurt, deal with it. Just don’t make a scene,” he said, his tone cold, predatory.
I pressed my lips together, nodding. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”