Elliot's voice came through the link before I could finish speaking, carrying a weight that pressed against my instincts. "It's my fault. I should have anticipated this interference. Your father wouldn't have suffered if I had acted sooner."
"How is it your fault, Elliot?" I replied quickly, steadying my breathing as the tension between our presences settled into something electric. "I only called to ask if you're willing to help my father this time. If you can resolve the acquisition and stabilize his pack, I'll repay you in any way you require."
My words came out more openly than I expected, but in the face of an Alpha of his standing, humility wasn't optional—it was instinct.
There was a brief silence on his end, the kind that made my pulse tighten, before his voice returned, lower and rougher than before. "Anything?"
