I watched in a daze as Anastasia gently held Jared close, the little boy's weight pressing lightly against her chest. When she finally settled him into bed, he barely had time to adjust his head to the pillow before curling into a comfortable position and surrendering to sleep, his small body soft and vulnerable. Even from a distance, I felt the pull of protection the raw Alpha instinct surging in me like wildfire.
Once Jared was tucked in, Anastasia turned and subtly gestured for me to leave the room. I obeyed, taking long, deliberate strides toward the door, my senses alert to every flicker of her scent, every subtle movement of her body. After the door clicked shut behind her, I paused in the hallway, letting the quiet of the apartment settle around us.
"Thanks for tonight," she said softly, her voice carrying a mixture of relief and something else I couldn't name.
