"Don't worry. Jared will be fine."
Elliot's voice came through the line steady, but I could feel the strain underneath it—like an Alpha holding his instincts in place so they didn't fracture under pressure.
"How about you?" My throat burned as I spoke. "I don't just care about Jared… I care about you too."
A brief silence followed, heavier than words.
"I will be fine too. Trust me."
He tried to soften it with a quiet laugh, but it didn't reach me. Not fully.
I swallowed hard. "Promise me, Elliot… that you will come back safely."
There was a shift in his tone then—something sharper, more focused, like a predator hearing an offer it couldn't ignore.
"Is there a reward if I return safely?"
My breath caught. Even now, even with everything hanging between life and loss, he was still him.
"Then come back," I said, voice shaking but firm, instincts pushing every word forward. "Come back and marry me. I'll be your mate. I'll become your wife."
