Without another word, Anastasia stepped back into the den and closed the entrance behind her, the barrier sealing with finality as her presence withdrew from mine. The faint pressure of her aura vanished with the door, leaving me outside in the still air, standing alone with unresolved tension lingering between instinct and restraint.
Inside, Jared was guided to the resting area, where Anastasia brought him to the couch and began correcting him in a firm but controlled tone. He sat with a slight pout at first, his small frame showing reluctance, before finally admitting, "But I like Mr. Presgrave."
"Don't," she replied, her voice steady as she reinforced the boundary. "And never contact him without my approval again. He carries the weight of leadership within his pack, and his responsibilities are not light. Do you understand?"
