The room went quiet.
Kaiden looked down at her. Alexandra looked up at him, fists white at her sides, and the two of them held each other's gaze long enough for every girl in the room to forget they were supposed to be getting ready for Phase 2.
Then Alexandra's chin lifted another inch, and the fear bled out of her face so fast it left a grin behind, bright, reckless, and ready for every argument he could throw her way.
She had her rebuttals lined up. Kaiden could see them queued behind her teeth, a whole case about courage, choice, and how she'd already thought this through, even though she only had a few seconds to think.
The girl who couldn't hold his gaze a month ago was standing here prepared to take on the entire room.
But Kaiden didn't give her the fight.
His hand settled on her shoulder, and he smiled.
"I'm really proud of how strong you've gotten, Alex."
