Oliver's heart pounded as Elliot's presence filled the space, his Alpha aura pressing against his instincts in a way that made it hard to breathe evenly. Though they appeared close in age, the difference in dominance was unmistakable, the weight of Elliot's presence signaling a rank that could not be challenged without consequence. Instinct alone told Oliver that this was not someone to provoke, and in that fleeting judgment, he assumed Elliot must be Anastasia's mate, someone bound to her within the pack.
I walked Oliver to the elevator, keeping my tone light despite the tension still lingering in the air. "Oliver, I'll treat you to lunch tomorrow. Be sure to come."
"Of course. See you tomorrow." He nodded and stepped inside with the computer tower in his arms, the elevator doors closing as his presence gradually disappeared from the immediate space.
