I took a steady breath, forcing my instincts to settle, and rose from my chair despite the tension coiling in my chest. The Alpha's office carried his scent like a territorial claim—sharp, controlled, impossible to ignore. Elliot stood near the desk, idly turning an exquisite female bracelet between his fingers as if it already belonged within his dominion. The thicker band on his own wrist caught the light, aligned with a limited-edition watch that spoke of status, control, and quiet authority. Everything about him radiated Alpha dominance, the kind that made even silence feel like a command.
As I pushed the door open, his presence shifted instantly. His gaze locked onto mine, deep and unwavering, and something in the air tightened like a snapped tether between packmates. A smile curved his lips as he rose and crossed the space toward me with deliberate ease, every step measured like a predator closing distance with its mate.
