The low rumble in John's voice traveled through the phone and straight into my chest, stirring the wolf inside me.
"What's wrong?" he asked calmly. "Are you wary of me? Don't worry, Miss Tillman. I'm not a dangerous man. It's just that I'm tied up during the day. I only have time at night."
Night.
For wolves like us, night wasn't just a time slot. It was when instincts sharpened, when dominance was harder to mask, and when pack energy ran thick in the air. My wolf shifted uneasily, but I reminded myself of my place. He was a client. A deal was a deal.
"Alright," I said after a brief pause. "I'll bring the draft to your place at eight tonight."
"There's one more thing," John added, his voice firm now. "I don't like outsiders entering my territory. So it's better if you come alone, Miss Tillman."
My grip tightened around my phone.
Alone.
Into his territory.
My wolf bristled, hackles rising in warning. Every instinct told me to be cautious. This wasn't just a house—it was a den, claimed and guarded. Still, pack rules were unforgiving. Backing out wasn't an option.
"I understand," I replied, keeping my voice steady. "I'll be there at eight sharp."
"I'll send you the location now."
The call ended, leaving behind a strange heaviness in the air, as if an invisible line had just been crossed. I stared at my phone for a moment, my wolf restless, circling inside me.
I went straight to Felicia's office and told her about the call. She listened quietly, then leaned back in her chair, her expression thoughtful.
"John Curtis?" she said. "He's a known Alpha in the business packs. Strong territory, clean reputation. No bad rumors. He's not the kind to cross boundaries without reason."
I nodded, though my instincts didn't fully relax.
"I just hope tonight goes smoothly," I said.
Deep down, I wasn't sure why my wolf refused to calm.
By the afternoon meeting, the atmosphere in the room felt thick with pack pressure. Then Elliot arrived.
He hadn't shown up for three days, and the moment he stepped inside, the balance shifted. His presence was cold and commanding, his dominance silent but absolute. His hair was neatly styled, his dark gray suit sharp against his broad frame. He looked every bit like an Alpha who ruled without needing to assert himself.
I kept my head lowered, eyes on the documents in front of me. Across the table, Alice wouldn't sit still. She adjusted her posture again and again, her wolf practically begging for Elliot's attention.
Mine stayed quiet, withdrawn.
Instead of listening, my thoughts drifted. To nightfall. To John's territory. To what awaited me once the sun went down. Without realizing it, my hand began moving, absentmindedly scribbling lines across my notebook.
"Anastasia Tillman."
Felicia's voice cut through the room like a snap of teeth.
I froze.
"Focus on the meeting and stop doodling."
Heat rushed to my face as I straightened instantly. "Alright," I said, my voice low and embarrassed.
I set my pencil down obediently. When I looked up, my eyes met Elliot's.
His gaze was dark, sharp, and openly displeased.
The weight of his authority pressed down on me, heavy and unyielding. To him, I must have looked like a careless pup ignoring a pack briefing.
"Anastasia," he said calmly, though the warning beneath his tone was unmistakable, "you need to learn how to show respect in my company."
A few quiet snickers rippled through the room. Some of them were clearly pleased to see me corrected by the Alpha himself.
I lowered my eyes, my cheeks burning. Inside, my wolf curled tight, bristling with a mix of shame and defiance. Human emotion clashed violently with wolf instinct, leaving me unsettled and raw.
As the meeting continued, one thought refused to leave my mind.
Night was coming.
And with it, a test I wasn't sure I was ready to face.
I blinked once, then slowly propped my chin on my hand. Instead of lowering my head like everyone expected, I smiled straight at Elliot.
"Thank you for teaching me how I should behave," I said lightly, my tone calm but deliberate. "But I prefer being myself. Alpha Presgrave, if you don't like that, you're free to cast me out of the pack."
The room went dead silent.
I could hear sharp intakes of breath, wolves stiffening in shock. Pack members exchanged looks of disbelief. No one spoke to Alpha Presgrave like that. Ever.
Elliot wasn't just the Alpha overseeing our territory. Behind him stood Presgrave Corporation, an even older and more powerful pack, one that reinforced his authority and wealth. Crossing him wasn't brave—it was reckless.
Had I lost my mind?
I could feel Felicia's anxiety spike beside me. Her scent shifted, sharp with panic, as she turned toward me.
"Anastasia!" she snapped in a hushed but frantic tone. "How could you speak to Alpha Presgrave like that?"
But I didn't look away.
A playful spark flickered in my eyes as I held Elliot's gaze, my wolf lifting its head instead of bowing. "Alpha Presgrave," I added calmly, "would you like me to submit my resignation right now?"
The tension snapped tight.
"Anastasia, you can't resign!" Felicia blurted out. "You still have to meet Alpha Curtis tonight!"
The moment the words left her mouth, I felt the air change.
Elliot's expression darkened. His brows drew together, and a low, dangerous pressure rolled out from him—pure Alpha dominance.
"Why," he asked slowly, turning to Felicia, "is she meeting a client at night?"
The question caught Felicia off guard. He wasn't angry. He wasn't roaring. And that made it worse.
She cleared her throat quickly. "One of our clients customized a piece and can only meet after dark. He requested that Anastasia go to his territory alone tonight."
I felt Elliot's gaze snap back to me.
Cold. Assessing. Protective in a way that made my wolf bristle.
"Tell that Alpha," Elliot said flatly, "that none of my pack members work beyond pack hours. There will be no business conducted outside of sanctioned time."
The dominance in his voice was unmistakable. From the way his scent sharpened, it was clear what he assumed—Alpha Curtis was male, territorial, and potentially dangerous.
Felicia hesitated. "We… we've already agreed on the time," she said carefully.
I could tell then.
Elliot wasn't scolding me.
He was trying to stop me.
But my wolf, stubborn and proud, recoiled at the invisible leash tightening around my neck.
"Don't worry, Felicia," I said, cutting in before she could continue. "I'll meet Alpha Curtis tonight. I won't be late, and nothing will go wrong."
I meant it—or at least, I meant to prove I wasn't weak.
Elliot turned to me slowly.
The room felt smaller. The pack instinctively held its breath.
"I forbid you to go, Anastasia," he said, his voice low and absolute.
The command slammed into me like a force.
My heart pounded. My wolf snarled softly, torn between instinctive submission and fierce resistance. Human defiance burned hot in my chest, clashing violently with the urge to obey an Alpha's order.
I met his eyes anyway.
And in that moment, I knew—I wasn't just defying a superior.
I was challenging an Alpha.