I squared my shoulders and lifted my chin, feeling the weight of my instincts flare within me. "I'll tell the finance pack to claw back their funds, and I'll return the trophy to the organizer. I don't need your generosity." My voice was steady, but my pulse was racing, every beat echoing like a warning drum in my chest.
Before I could step away, Elliot rose from his chair like an Alpha asserting his dominance. His presence filled the room, the energy around him sharp and electric. "Wait," he barked, and my fur bristled instinctively.
I froze, heart pounding, and turned to face him. "Is there something else, Alpha Presgrave?" I asked cautiously, my ears twitching.
He moved closer, not menacing, but commanding, his aura pressing against mine. "I won't meddle with your work or interfere with your territory, but I will care for you and Jared… personally," he said, his tone low, certain, irresistible.
