Even in the quiet of my home, my mind refused to settle. Tonight had been a maelstrom of instincts, pack bonds, and Alpha dominance a night where survival and trust collided in ways I never expected. Somehow, Hayley had played the role of the predator perfectly, threatening me not to alert the authorities and letting Ben slink away. More than ten minutes later, she received word that he had escaped the hotel intact. That meant Elliot had intervened and the realization made Hayley's plans crumble. He hadn't answered her first call because I had been in his protective orbit, in his pack, shielded by his dominance.
Hayley's fury simmered behind her composed mask. Every careful scheme she had set tonight had been undone. Yet she reminded herself that as long as she continued her charade, she could still manipulate the field. If she played her part well, she could bend me to her will or so she thought.
