Elisabeth's POV
The man who had escorted Andy back into the room reappeared the instant Alpha Jefferson vanished, leaving me no moment to absorb what had just transpired. His expression remained stone cold, revealing nothing.
"Alpha Jefferson values his time. Collect what you need. We leave immediately."
My legs responded before my brain could catch up, driven by the command in his voice. I cast one final glance toward Andy, whose eyes blazed with such rage they could have incinerated everything in sight. His loathing was palpable, but I had no seconds to spare dwelling on it. I spun around and bolted up the staircase, my pulse hammering against my ribs with every stride.
I fumbled with the lock meant to cage me in, shoving the door wide open. The room transformed into a whirlwind as I snatched whatever came within reach. Clothing, treasured keepsakes, necessities. Anything that might matter in whatever came next.
My thoughts churned chaotically.
This wasn't simply gathering possessions. I was abandoning everything familiar and plunging into uncertainty with a stranger whose mere presence commanded submission from every Alpha.
Every instinct screamed at me to stop, to think through this decision, but time was a luxury I didn't possess. I had to escape Andy and his hollow world of appearances. My parents' inevitable disappointment would have to wait. Right now, I was racing toward someone who wielded power that made others tremble.
The bag weighed down my arm as I sprinted from the mansion, gasping for air, and dove into the waiting vehicles. I refused to glance backward. The only priority was putting distance between myself and Andy's territory.
I had never truly felt at home there anyway.
The car accelerated, transforming the outside world into streaks of light and shadow. My heart hammered not only from velocity but from the unknown future approaching. The vehicle eventually decelerated as we reached the entrance of an impressive estate, stealing my breath completely.
I hadn't realized he resided in the same city.
The mansion was stunning beyond anything I could have conceived, surpassing even my most extravagant fantasies.
We stopped, and a man in an immaculate suit opened my door, his expression vacant. "The Alpha King requests your presence in his study."
I nodded mechanically, two thoughts cycling through my mind.
Did anyone here ever smile?
How had Alpha Jefferson reached his study so quickly?
The aroma that enveloped me upon entering the study was intoxicating. Chocolate mixed with rosewood, deep and overwhelming. It awakened something primitive inside me, causing my wolf to pace restlessly.
Then I spotted him.
He occupied a massive, commanding desk, his steel-gray eyes capturing mine with force that weakened my knees. We locked gazes for what seemed endless before he spoke with calculated calm. "Take a seat, Elisabeth."
The instruction was straightforward, yet something in his delivery made resistance impossible. I inhaled deeply, attempting to control my racing pulse, and lowered myself into the chair facing him.
His stare remained unwavering, and a barely visible smile curved his mouth.
"How do you know my name?" The words escaped before I could restrain them.
His smile expanded, revealing a dangerous gleam in his eyes.
He offered no response, forcing me to draw another steadying breath while trying to calm the emotional tempest inside me. "What are your intentions with me?"
His eyebrow lifted, amusement flickering in his gaze. "Intentions in what way?" he questioned, his voice carrying suggestive undertones that caught my breath.
He settled back in his chair, appearing relaxed yet authoritative. "Your parents hold reputations as the finest medical practitioners in the nation. Does reality match their credentials, and did you acquire their abilities?"
The inquiry blindsided me completely, leaving me temporarily speechless. I remained silent, my mind spinning. How could he possibly know about my parents?
He appeared to read my bewilderment. "I visited Andy's pack to evaluate the alliance. I prefer thorough knowledge about my potential partners. That's how I learned your name. I possess comprehensive information about you, Elisabeth."
Elisabeth.
My name had never sounded more beautiful.
I noticed irritation flash in his eyes at my continued silence, and tremors ran through me under his penetrating gaze. "Forgive me," I finally whispered, my voice shaking. "I didn't intend to remain quiet."
Alpha Jefferson exhaled, appearing more weary than annoyed. He dragged his hand through his hair, pushing back the strands that had drooped across his eyes, though they immediately returned to their original position. The gesture seemed both effortless and authoritative, emphasizing his remarkable features even more.
His jaw was razor-sharp, his eyes piercing gray that seemed to penetrate my soul, and his perfect lips formed a firm, detached line. Heat flooded my cheeks as I forced myself to look elsewhere, focusing on my quivering hands.
He was devastatingly handsome.
The quiet extended, and I sensed the pressure of his attention. It felt suffocating, and with another sigh, he shattered the silence. "You haven't responded to my question."
His question?
Reality crashed back as I recalled his earlier inquiry. "Yes," I stammered, "my parents truly are exceptional. They trained me in their techniques, but Andy forbade me from practicing. I was required to become his decorative Luna."
Alpha Jefferson nodded deliberately, as though absorbing the information. He reached for a document that had been positioned before him, unnoticed until this moment. His fingers grazed mine as he handed it over, and the contact sent electricity through me that I wasn't prepared for.
I jerked my hand away, struggling to regulate my breathing.
The paper shook slightly in my grasp as I attempted to compose myself, but before I could examine it, his next declaration struck me like lightning, leaving me completely stunned.
"I want you to become my contracted Luna."