Given the size of the table, Jackson raised his voice so everyone could hear him clearly. The room fell into a heavy silence, and all eyes turned toward Rebecca at once. The air felt tight, almost pressuring, yet she remained composed. Her smile did not fade, though it carried a quiet stiffness that gave nothing away.
Joe's voice broke the silence. "You're all very refined and proper, Ms. Stovall. I've barely spoken, and already I'm being judged in a personal way."
Jackson let out a short laugh, sharp and unconvinced. "Spare us the polite words. Joe Quinn, right? If you care about her that much, then just claim her properly. Don't let her linger around someone else's mate, waiting like she has nowhere to go."
Macy, still eating, spoke next without lifting her head much. "That's just how it is. People always want what they can't have. Forbidden things always feel more valuable when they're out of reach."
