Kael didn’t move. Not until I stepped aside, waving toward the hallway.
“Come in.”
The moment he stepped forward, I felt it. A subtle shift in the air. The faint hum of magic dissolving. Lyra’s spell loosened its hold, obedient to my will alone. Kael exhaled shakily as he crossed fully into the house, his own house, then stopped just inside, as if afraid to take one step too far.
“I didn’t think that would actually work on you,” I admitted, closing the door behind him.
“You’re the Alpha. I thought… well. I thought you’d be able to override it.”
A corner of his mouth lifted—not in humor, but something rueful.
“So did I.”
He glanced back at the door, then at me.
“Turns out my sister knows things about magic I don’t. Or maybe,” he added softly,
“She knew exactly how to make it wo
