Marina let out a weary sigh, the weight of responsibility settling on her shoulders as she stepped into the tense atmosphere of the room. Her brief moment of peace had been shattered, replaced by the suffocating presence of conflict. Her sharp gaze swept over the scene, taking in the disheveled state of the wolf man and the barely contained fury radiating from Irene. The air was thick with tension, the kind that sent a chill down one’s spine.
"Enough." Marina’s voice, though not loud, carried the unmistakable weight of authority. She moved forward with purpose, placing herself between the wolf man and Irene, her presence a silent shield against further harm. With a gentle but firm grip, she guided the wolf man behind her, as if to remind Irene that he was under her protection.
Her piercing gaze locked onto Irene, eyes burning with disappointment and warning. "Just because you are angry does not give you the right to lash out at the staff," she said, her words clipped and firm. "You will not let your temper rule you. You are better than this, and I expect you to act with the dignity and restraint that I know you possess."
There was an unmistakable finality in her words, a warning wrapped in unyielding steel. "I will give you one more chance, Irene. Just one. If you cross this line again, I will have no choice but to cast you out."
It pained Marina to say it, but she would. No matter how much she longed for companionship, no matter how desperately she needed a friend—a sister—she would not sacrifice the sanctity of this place. This was a haven, a fragile refuge in a world that knew no mercy. She would not let Irene’s anger stain it with violence; well, more violence than that that already existed in her home.
Her voice softened, but her resolve did not waver. "Now, sit down and eat before you collapse from exhaustion." There was care in her words, even as she reprimanded.
Turning to the wolf man, she offered him a small, reassuring smile, a stark contrast to the cold authority she had shown moments before. "I'm sorry about her," she said gently. "Go on and take a short break before returning to work, okay? You’ve done enough for now."