I held Elliot's gaze and answered without hesitation, my voice steady and unyielding.
"No one can stop me if I decide to go."
The room froze.
Shock rippled through the pack like a sudden break in formation. I had crossed a line—Elliot's line. I refused his command outright, something no one else in this entire territory would ever dare to do.
Felicia's scent spiked with panic. She moved fast, cutting the tension before it could turn violent.
"Alright, the meeting is over!" she announced quickly, clearly terrified that Elliot's patience might finally snap.
Chairs shifted. Papers rustled. I gathered my documents and stood up, feeling Alice's glare burn into my back. Her jealousy was sharp and bitter, reeking of resentment.
Who did Anastasia think she was?
How dare she challenge Alpha Presgrave like that?
I ignored her and walked out.
Back in my office, I finally allowed myself to breathe. I reached for my cup, desperate for a sip of water, when the door slammed open so hard it rattled the walls.
I didn't jump. I just narrowed my eyes.
Here we go again.
Elliot stood there, his expression dark, his presence filling the room with heavy Alpha pressure. I set my cup down slowly and met his stare.
"What's wrong, President Presgrave?" I asked coolly.
"Show me Alpha Curtis's details," he demanded, stepping forward and reaching for my documents.
"You already saw him at the jewelry exhibition last night," I replied evenly. "His name is John Curtis."
The moment I said it, his face darkened further. His jaw tightened, and the air around him grew sharp with restrained aggression.
Why won't she refuse?
Why is she still going at eight tonight?
"Can't you tell he has ill intentions?" Elliot snapped, his voice low and dangerous.
I lifted my chin. "All I know is that my draft is worth seven digits."
That was the truth. My wolf understood survival, territory, and reward. This commission mattered.
"Then send someone else," he said sharply. "Anyone but you."
"No." I shook my head without hesitation. "This is my order. My responsibility. I don't need you worrying about me."
I walked to the door, pulled it open, and gestured calmly.
"You should leave. I need to get back to work."
The silence stretched.
Elliot's teeth clenched. I could hear it.
"Anastasia," he said slowly, "you'll regret this."
I raised my eyebrows and smiled faintly, unafraid.
"That's none of your business, President Presgrave."
His eyes darkened completely.
"You—"
For a man who ruled a pack with absolute control, he had lost his temper ever since meeting me. I could feel it, the way his dominance kept colliding with my refusal to submit.
He turned and left in a storm of restrained fury.
Only then did I exhale.
There was a strange thrill humming under my skin. Maybe because Elliot was Hayley's mate. Maybe because no matter how worried he pretended to be, I would never let him dictate my choices.
Work came first.
Since I would be staying out late tonight, I called Francis and asked him to pick up Jared from school. He agreed immediately, his voice warm and eager. He'd missed Jared after not seeing him for days and planned to take him out for a proper meal.
As for me, night was approaching.
And with it, another Alpha's territory—and whatever fate my instincts refused to stop chasing.
Knowing my father would take care of my child, my mind finally settled enough for me to stay late. With Jared safe in his care, I could focus on work without my instincts constantly pulling me in two directions. The end of the month was closing in, and I still hadn't finished all the drafts the pack required me to submit. Falling behind wasn't an option—not in this territory.
Around 6:30 p.m., I ordered takeout and ate alone in the company pantry. The building was quiet now, most of the pack already gone. I stood by the window, food forgotten in my hands as I stared at the sunset bleeding across the skyline. The sky burned in shades of red and gold, the kind of colors that always stirred something restless in my wolf. Night was coming. Instinctively, I felt it—the shift in energy, the thinning line between restraint and instinct.
At the same time, Elliot was still in the Alpha office.
He pressed his fingers to his temple, irritation and worry tangled beneath his calm exterior.
"Is she still here?" he asked Rey.
"Yes," Rey replied. "Miss Tillman ordered takeout a few minutes ago. She's eating in the pantry. I assume she plans to leave around seven and head to John Curtis's territory after."
Elliot's jaw tightened.
"Keep watching her," he said quietly.
He couldn't stop himself. He had promised Harriet he would look after Anastasia, and there was still the debt he owed her mother. That bond weighed heavily on him. No matter how defiant I was, he couldn't allow anything to happen to me—not under his watch.
After eating, I rested for a short while, letting my wolf settle before gathering my things. At 7:10 p.m., I finally left the building.
A cab waited at the entrance. I climbed in, unaware that a black car pulled out soon after, following silently, keeping a careful distance like a shadow guarding from afar.
Inside the cab, I stared out at the city lights as they flickered on one by one. Anxiety coiled tighter with every passing street. My instincts whispered warnings, but I pushed them down. I just needed to close the deal and leave. I even rehearsed what I'd say—letting John know a colleague was nearby, just in case.
Hopefully, that would be enough to keep him in line.
The cab soon entered an upscale residential area, where the air itself felt different—thick with territory claims and Alpha pressure. It stopped in front of a grand villa, its gates tall and imposing.
After I paid and stepped out, the cab drove away. Moments later, another car stopped farther down the street.
I didn't notice it.
Elliot, however, sat inside that car, his hands clenched tightly on his knees as he watched me walk toward the gate. Every instinct screamed at him to get out, to stop me. He forced himself to stay still, already planning to send Rey in if anything felt wrong.
I pressed the doorbell.
When the door opened, John's voice drifted out smoothly, warm and unhurried.
"Come in, Miss Tillman. I'm waiting for you in the living room."
I stepped inside without hesitation.
The villa was exactly what I expected—lavish, polished, and steeped in the scent of wealth and dominance. The air carried a subtle Alpha presence, confident and unchallenged. When I reached the living room, I saw John clearly.
He sat casually on the couch, dressed in a black robe, a glass of wine resting loosely in his hand. He looked relaxed, almost indulgent, like a wolf entirely at ease within his own territory.
My instincts stirred, alert and wary.
Night had fully fallen.
And I had stepped straight into another Alpha's den.