Naturally, I could have gone to Jared's room and claimed the space beside him, where the pack bonds felt safest and most familiar. But the thought of allowing an outsider—an Alpha whose presence stirred something unpredictable in my instincts—to simply occupy my resting place made something in me bristle. Even if that man was Elliot Presgrave, with a face that could unsettle the senses and a dominance that pressed quietly against my own, I refused to yield my space so easily.
"Alright, alright. I'll let you stay here for tonight only," I finally relented, hands resting on my hips as I made the decision, my tone firm despite the compromise.
After that, I left the room to bathe, letting the warm water settle my thoughts and calm the faint agitation still lingering in my instincts. Once I changed into my pajamas, I headed toward Jared's room, intending to share his space for the night and restore some sense of balance within the pack dynamic of the home.
Yet something pulled me back.
