I went completely silent when the pressure of his presence washed over me. It was heavy, dominant, unmistakably Alpha. Was he really standing there, watching over my work as if I were a low-ranking wolf under inspection? Fine. I pushed down my irritation and focused. I would finish the task, keep my claws sheathed, and earn my year-end reward from the pack. In this modern world, survival meant knowing when to bow your head even when your instincts screamed otherwise.
That night, Francis brought Erica with him to pick up Jared. They went to a restaurant owned by one of the city packs, a place that looked ordinary to humans but pulsed with supernatural energy beneath the lights. The air was thick with the scent of food, wolf pheromones, and unspoken tension.
