This claim was over.She kept reminding herself that the mandatory severance cooling-off period was three lunar cycles.After one more lunar cycle,she would be free,an unclaimed rogue on the human side of the border!
Elara Vance couldn't find rest the entire night.The silent,empty side of the Alpha King's bed had become a frozen wasteland.
At dawn,she rose and prepared a simple morning meal.This time,it was only for herself.The habit of catering to Ryder Thorne’s exacting tastes—the Alpha King’s unspoken expectation—was finally broken.
When Ryder emerged from the enormous master chamber,his senses,honed by years of Alpha training,instantly sought her out.Instinctively,he wrapped an arm around her waist from behind and lowered his head,pressing a cool,territorial kiss onto her forehead.
Elara turned her head slightly,enough for his touch to skim her,avoiding the full contact of his lips.
“What’s wrong?Is your current cycle making you irritable?”Ryder asked,the primal radar of an Alpha immediately noticing the minute shift in her body language and scent.
Elara lowered her gaze,feeling a suffocating pressure in her throat.She clenched her jaw,the resolve hardening her teeth,forcing herself to maintain her composure.“I am simply hungry,”she lied,the words sounding flat and thin.
Ryder didn’t press.The morning ritual—the cursory physical claiming—had always been her need,not his.He sat down,grabbed a thick slice of smoked venison toast,and took a bite.
“By the way,which subsidiary Clan did you negotiate the Black Forest deal with yesterday?I don’t recall asking the Pack Council,”he said,his voice casual.
Elara remained outwardly calm.“It was the Elder Weston’s legal team.Do you require the signed Decree for review,Alpha?”
Ryder paused,chewing slowly.Just when Elara’s palms began to sweat with fear of discovery,he suddenly broke into a rare,easy smile and ruffled her hair.
“I trust my claimed Mate,”he said lightly,his tone dripping with careless assurance.
Elara dropped her gaze.The pain in her chest sharpened—the kind of silent ache that came from a bond perpetually ignored.For years,she had yearned for him to truly care about her contributions to the Pack—to scrutinize her work,to caution her about Rogue Territory risks,or to offer true Alpha guidance.It had only ever been a phantom hope.