Elias gaze flickered to me for a second before he turned away. “Right. Enjoy.” He strode past us, his steps unhurried, his posture relaxed. But I knew better. Elias was never relaxed. He was always calculating, always hunting.
I let out a slow breath as he disappeared into the house.
“Don’t talk to him,” Benedict muttered, his grip tightening around the steering wheel. “Stay away from him, Felicia.”
I almost laughed. He had no right to tell me what to do, not after everything he had done. But I bit my tongue. I wasn’t here to fight. I was here to survive.
Inside the estate, the air was thick with tension. The elders were gathered, their gazes flicking between Benedict and Elias. I kept my expression neutral, greeting them with forced politeness.
“Felicia,” Benedict’s grandmother said, her sharp eyes pinning me in place. “You’ve been married for a while now. When can we expect an heir?”
My stomach twisted. I had long since abandoned any hope of a future with Benedict, and the thought of carrying his child made my skin crawl. But I couldn’t say that. Not here. Not yet.
Before I could answer, Elias spoke. “Pressuring her like that is outdated, don’t you think?”
The room fell silent. All eyes turned to him.
Benedict tensed beside me, his hands curling into fists. “This is none of your business.”
Elias smirked, leaning against the fireplace. “Everything about this pack is my business.”
I swallowed hard. Elias’s gaze flickered to me again, and for a moment, I thought I saw something in his expression. Amusement? Curiosity? Pity? I couldn’t tell.
Benedict grabbed my arm, his grip firm. “Come on. Tell them.”
I yanked free. “Don’t touch me.”
A hush fell over the room. The elders exchanged glances, some disapproving, others intrigued. Benedict’s grandmother narrowed her eyes. “Felicia—”
“I’m tired,” I interrupted. “I’ll excuse myself.”
Without waiting for permission, I turned and walked away. I could feel their eyes on me, feel Benedict’s fury burning through my back. But I didn’t care.
As I stepped into the dim hallway, I heard footsteps behind me. A strong hand caught my wrist—not rough like Benedict’s, but firm, steady.
I turned and saw Elias, my heart pounding. His grip was gentle, his eyes unreadable. “You need to leave,” he murmured.
My breath caught. “What?”
“Benedict won’t let you go easily,” he said, his voice low. “If you don’t act now, you’ll never be free.”