Anastasia frowned, her instincts tightening like an uneasy pull in her chest. "Of course. I see and talk to Mr. Hunter every day at work. So what's the issue?"
Elliot's Alpha aura flared immediately, sharp and possessive. "Don't you know that man has ulterior motives toward you?" His fists clenched so tightly I could almost hear the restraint cracking.
I met his gaze without backing down. "Elliot, mind your own business. Besides… don't you also have ulterior motives toward me?"
That made him stop.
The silence that followed was heavy, almost suffocating. His dominance didn't fade, but it shifted—like a wolf forced to pause mid-hunt.
"You're allowed to pursue me," I continued, my voice firmer now, "but the moment another man shows interest, he becomes a criminal in your eyes? That's not protection. That's control."
His jaw tightened.
But I didn't stop.
