Elliot's gaze lingered on me, steady and unhurried, his Alpha presence softened but unmistakable as it settled around me like a quiet claim. In that moment, I felt the familiar pull of instinct beneath his attention, as though my wolf responded before my mind could fully catch up. It was clear—no matter what I wore, my presence seemed to hold his focus in a way he did not bother to hide.
"Oh… really? All right, I'll leave now," he said at last, his tone calm as he turned without hesitation and moved toward the door.
It happened too quickly for me to react. I hadn't even finished my meal when the sound of the door closing echoed sharply through the den, leaving behind a sudden emptiness where his presence had been. For a brief moment, I simply sat there, still, realizing only then that he had truly gone. His emotions… were always difficult to read, shifting between distance and closeness without warning.
