I stood frozen beside Jared as the second SUV door swung open. The sharp scent of blood hit my senses immediately, mixing with Elliot's familiar Alpha aura, and my heart clenched so hard it hurt. A young man climbed out from the passenger seat first before quickly opening the back door. Richard stepped down and carefully supported Elliot as he emerged from the vehicle.
The second I saw the way Elliot favored one leg, panic tore through me.
My breathing stalled. My wolf howled violently beneath my skin.
He was injured.
The black coat hanging from his broad shoulders could not hide the tension in his body or the faint stiffness in his movements. Even after everything he had endured, Elliot still carried himself like the Alpha of an entire territory, proud and untouchable beneath the gray afternoon sky. But I could smell the lingering traces of blood through the clean scent of cedarwood and cold winter air.
My chest tightened painfully.
