Realizing it was me at the door, Jared's posture tightened slightly, his presence shifting as if he had already braced himself. "What's the matter?" he asked, his tone controlled, but alert in that quiet way that came from years of holding authority within the pack.
"I'm here to visit you." I stepped inside and placed the takeaways on his desk. The faint scent of food filled the room, softening the sharp edges of the space. "I know you haven't eaten, so I brought you something."
He studied me for a moment, clearly puzzled by my unexpected visit. "You don't come without a reason. What's going on?"
I hesitated, then forced a small, awkward smile. "Do you remember the time I went to A City for a business trip?"
He nodded as he continued eating. His movements were slow, a little worn, as if he had been working through the day without pause. The weight of responsibility around him was familiar, something I could almost feel pressing through the air.
