Elliot's lips curved into a faint smile as his gaze lingered on me, a teasing edge hidden beneath his calm dominance. "Are you asking me for a favor?" he asked, his tone light but carrying the quiet authority of someone used to being deferred to within the pack.
I shrugged, keeping my expression neutral even as my instincts reacted to his proximity. "I'm only passing along my father's request," I replied, making sure to separate the favor from any personal intent.
"Well, since it comes through your father, refusing wouldn't be appropriate," he said without hesitation, his decision firm and immediate. "Have your sister report on Monday."
I blinked, momentarily caught off guard by how readily he agreed, recognizing once again that he tended to extend favors as if repaying unseen debts rather than granting concessions.
