Rejected and Pregnant I Fled The Pack (Evelyn and Damon) novel Chapter 230

I turned back toward the three women, understanding I needed to address this decisively rather than simply allowing it to continue unresolved. "This is finished. All three of you will report to formal council proceedings regarding this assault. I don't care about whatever legitimate grievances you have toward me personally—that never justifies physical violence against someone who's done nothing except exist in proximity to me."

"You're actually going to formally punish us," the woman who'd shoved Nadia said, disbelief evident beneath her obvious fear, "over something this minor?"

"Assault isn't minor," I said firmly. "And frankly, given everything my father already explained this morning, you were specifically warned about exactly this kind of behavior. This isn't simply about protecting Nadia specifically, though that matters considerably. This is about establishing that this pack won't tolerate violence born from personal resentment, regardless of how legitimate the underlying grievance might genuinely be."

They stood there for a moment, apparently processing the genuine severity of what they'd just triggered, before finally retreating, their earlier hostile confidence entirely replaced by obvious, chastened fear.

Once they'd fully departed, I turned back toward Nadia, my earlier fierce authority giving way to genuine, immediate concern.

"Are you genuinely okay," I asked again, studying her carefully for any sign of injury beyond the obvious shock still evident in her expression.

"I'm fine," she said, though her voice remained slightly unsteady. "Just... surprised, I suppose. That escalated considerably faster than I anticipated."

"I should have anticipated it," I said, genuine frustration building at my own failure to properly protect her from this exact kind of confrontation. "Given everything happening this morning, I should have understood they might actually attempt something like this."

"You couldn't have predicted this specific escalation," Nadia said, something in her tone carrying genuine, if reluctant, acknowledgment. "Though I appreciate how immediately you actually intervened."

I felt something warm settle in my chest at that small, genuine acknowledgment, understanding the significance of her willingness to actually extend even that limited credit given everything else complicated about our situation.

"I meant everything I said," I told her, my voice carrying genuine, unwavering conviction. "This won't happen again, Nadia. I'll ensure formal consequence for what just occurred, and I'll make certain everyone within this pack understands clearly that harming you isn't acceptable, regardless of whatever personal history exists between myself and anyone else."

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