Rowan set down his coffee with controlled force. "You don't understand what you're dealing with. This isn't about inn management or community fitness. This is warfare."
"It's my warfare now."
"Because of me. Because they're using you to get to me."
Diana turned to face him. "Is that what you think? That I'm just collateral damage in your pack politics?"
"That's not what I meant."
"Isn't it?" Diana pulled the summons from his fist, smoothing out the wrinkles. "Because standing here right now, listening to you talk about this being warfare and pressure tactics, I'm wondering if I ever had a real chance in this town or if I was always just the human who got caught in the crossfire."
"Diana."
"No, let me finish." Her voice stayed steady, professional. "I came to Hollow Oak to build something. To earn my place through work and competence and genuine care for this community. But everywhere I turn, there are whispers about whether I belong, whether I'm suitable, whether I can handle the responsibility."
"Those whispers are manufactured."
"All of them?" Diana gestured toward the door. "Or have some people always wondered if Miriam made a mistake choosing me?"
"The people who matter know your worth."
She laughed. “Well, it feels like the only reason anyone defends me is because you're standing behind me, ready to bare your teeth at anyone who questions my competence."
Rowan stepped closer. "That's not true."
"Then prove it. Let me handle this Council review alone. Let me stand or fall on my own merits without the wolf shifter hovering protectively in the background."
"I won't abandon you."
"I'm not asking you to abandon me. I'm asking you to trust me to fight my own battles."
"This battle exists because of my choices. Because I helped Sarah, because I refused to go back, because?—"
"Because you chose to stay here with me." Diana's voice softened. "And now that choice is costing the town I’ve grown to love."
"The town loves you too."
"Some of it does. But there's enough doubt, enough suspicion, that an anonymous complaint can trigger a full ownership review." Diana folded the summons and tucked it into her apron pocket. "I need to face that doubt directly. Prove I can handle whatever they throw at me without supernatural backup."
"What if you can't? What if they've already decided to remove you?"
"Then I'll deal with that too."
Rowan stared at her for a long moment. "You're really going to do this alone."
"I have to. Don't you see? If I let you fight this battle for me, I'll never know if I truly earned my place here or if I just got to keep it because my mate was scarier than the people trying to take it away."
"I'm not your mate yet."
The words hung between them, sharp and unexpected.
"Right," Diana said quietly. "My mistake."
"That's not what I meant."
"It's exactly what you meant. And it's exactly why I need to do this alone." Diana moved toward the stairs. "The inn needs to be cleaned for tonight's inspection. Gerald Finch will be here within the hour, looking for any excuse to add to the complaint list."
"Diana, wait."
