Velour Café glowed softly against the hum of the mall, lantern light spilling across polished tables, the scent of roasted beans curling through the air. Samantha entered with two bodyguards trailing discreetly behind, their presence a reminder of Maximus’s command.
She had tried to refuse him. The memory lingered as she walked, her voice sharp, her tone steady, insisting she didn’t need rest, that the Pack needed her more than she needed reprieve. But Maximus had not bent. His silence had been heavier than argument, his gaze unyielding. When he finally spoke, his words carried the weight of command and affection both.
“You will rest, Samantha. Two days. No debate.”
She had wanted to fight him, but the spark between them made refusal impossible. His insistence was not just authori
