TRAVIS POV
I walked downstairs with a victory smile I couldn't suppress even if I tried.
The air in the hall was thick with the scent of the other Alpha Kings — dominance, suspicion, impatience. Normally I would've masked my emotions better. Normally I wouldn't walk into a room like that practically glowing.
But today wasn't normal.
Today, Astrid had kissed me.
Even if it was just a small peck on the cheek.
Even if it was probably nothing.
It still felt like everything.
Jake noticed first.
Of course he did.
The moment my foot hit the last stair, his head snapped toward me. His nostrils flared, and before I could even react, he was in front of me — fast enough that I barely registered the movement.
His hand grabbed the front of my shirt.
"Why the fuck do you have her scent on you," he growled, voice low and dangerous, "while you're smiling like that?"
The room went silent.
Then the others were there.
Karl leaned against the wall with narrowed eyes.
