Lucas visibly softened at my words, his shoulders easing as if the pressure of the entire pack council had momentarily lifted. A faint, grateful smile crossed his face as he replied, "Thank you for your concern, Miss Tillman."
But I could smell the truth beneath his words.
Unease. Burden. The scent of a wolf forced into a corner.
He had been pressured into this arrangement, cornered by threats tied to his son's life. No Alpha willingly betrays another without consequence, yet here he stood, trapped between survival and loyalty. I understood it too well—the kind of leverage that strips a wolf of choice.
Lucas exhaled slowly before looking at Elliot with a heavy, meaningful gaze. "The young woman beside you is as kind as she is beautiful. Keep her close."
Elliot didn't hesitate. A low, amused breath left him as he tightened his hold on my hand. "We'll invite you to our mating ceremony when the time comes, Mr. Dora."
Heat rushed instantly to my face.
