She made sure of it, every angle, every detail carefully considered, while her voice carried lightly, as if she were simply another eager presence in the crowd.
But beneath it all, anticipation coiled within her. She was already imagining the moment Addison realized the shift and saw her among the crowd, the moment recognition turned into unease.
And Zion…
Claire's smile deepened, eyes gleaming faintly as she waited for their arrival, every part of her poised for what would come next.
But it seemed the Alpha King had caught up to her train of thought. His gaze snapped toward her, cold and absolute, and the weight of his aura followed, pressing down with quiet, merciless authority.
It wasn't a strike, not even a word, yet it was enough. Bloodline suppression took hold instantly, draining the strength from Claire's body as if it had been stripped away at its source.
Her breath hitched, her limbs weakened, and her knees trembled on the verge of giving out beneath her.
