Elliot's expression never changed. That calm, absolute control unsettled me more than any overt reaction would have. There was no hesitation in him, no internal conflict I could sense. Even as my instincts began to unravel under his proximity, he remained steady—like an Alpha who already knew how every interaction would end before it began.
I, however, was losing ground without realizing when it started.
My resistance faded first. Then my stubbornness. Shyness crept in after that, quiet and uninvited, followed by a disorienting awareness that I could no longer maintain distance from him the way I used to. Every attempt to steady myself collapsed the moment his presence pressed closer, as if my instincts no longer trusted my judgment when he was near.
My voice came out softer than I intended.
"Don't…"
It wasn't a command. Not even close.
It was surrender disguised as concern.
