I didn't understand why my thoughts kept drifting back to Elliot Presgrave, even though we had already drawn clear boundaries and returned to being strangers. The agreement was simple, the terms were set, and yet his presence lingered in my mind like an unresolved imprint on my instincts. I exhaled softly, trying to push it away. No, I told myself. I can't keep thinking about him. I still have responsibilities, and I need proper rest to keep my pack duties in order.
But sleep refused to come when I needed it most. The more I tried to quiet my mind, the more alert my senses became, as though my body was resisting rest for reasons I couldn't fully explain. In the end, exhaustion overtook resistance, and I slipped into sleep without realizing when it finally claimed me.
