Elliot sat across from Erica in the private dining chamber, his Alpha presence filling the space with a controlled pressure that made even breathing feel deliberate. His claws were restrained beneath his calm exterior, but the tension in his posture was unmistakable, like a wolf holding back instinct. "What did that male look like? What was his occupation?" he asked, voice low and precise.
Erica shifted slightly, her scent betraying hesitation even as she answered. "I don't know. I only heard he was a male escort. Clubs like Abyss are chaotic—you don't focus on individuals in that kind of crowd." Her eyes blinked too steadily, too carefully. A lie, or at least a half-truth shaped for survival.
Elliot's gaze sharpened. He didn't raise his voice, but the pressure in the room deepened. "Tell me the exact time and place of the incident."
"I don't remember the exact time," Erica said after a pause. "But it happened at Abyss Club."
