And then… the unthinkable happened.
Instead of recoiling, she extended her hand, palm open and steady. Her eyes met his, not with the challenge or fear that he was used to, but with something that cut through the haze of his anger—understanding. Ranger hesitated, his aggressive momentum faltering in the presence of this unexpected gesture. It was as if her calm was a force field that absorbed his ferocity, leaving it with nowhere to go.
For a moment that stretched into eternity, they were locked in a silent dialogue, her eyes speaking volumes in a language without words. Ranger’s growl subsided, morphing into a low whine that spoke of confusion and a flicker of something he hadn’t felt in a long time—curiosity. He took a cautious step back, his eyes never leaving hers, as if trying to decode the enigma she presented.
