Chapter 38. The Challenge

Sherman POV

The weight of Noah resting against my shoulder was unexpected but not unwelcome as we climbed the stairs.

Each wooden step creaked softly beneath our feet, the sound echoing through the quiet house. My wolf, Leo, remained alert, sensing something beyond physical assistance in Noah’s request.

“He wants to speak with us alone,” Leo rumbled within me. “The brother is protective of her.”

I nodded imperceptibly, understanding this was coming.

The narrow hallway at the top of the stairs was dimly lit by a small lamp, casting long shadows across the worn carpet.

Two doors faced each other—one slightly ajar with hints of lavender and Silvia’s scent drifting through, clearly her bedroom.

Noah gestured toward the other door.

“In here,” he said quietly, his voice firmer than I’d heard it all evening.

His room was modest but neat—bookshelves lined with medical texts and fantasy novels, a desk with a laptop, and a bed with