"Why do you care?" Elliot's voice carried that sharp edge of jealousy, like an Alpha's instinct snapping the moment another male scent drifted too close to what he considered his.
"Jeez, knock it off," Anastasia laughed, though her pulse betrayed a faint heat she refused to name.
A low sound came through the line—his voice softening instantly, like a beast forced back into restraint. "Alright. I'll stop."
It should have been simple, but the way he said it lingered—controlled, rough, almost obedient in a way that unsettled her more than it should have. She ended the call quickly, pressing her lips together.
I can never win against Elliot's teasing.
After a while, Felicia approached her, her presence steady like a ranking member of the pack checking reports within the territory. She asked about her son, and Anastasia didn't hide anything—she explained that Elliot had already stepped in and settled the situation before it escalated.
…
