Anthony's POV
The moment Elara left my office, the room felt colder, emptier. Her scent lingered—wild, like the forest after a storm—but the warmth, the pulse of life she brought with her, faded away as the door clicked shut. I stood there, staring at the space she had occupied, my fists clenched at my sides. The silence that followed her departure felt like a reprimand, echoing in my ears.
What had I just done?
Letting her go to Sergio—no, pushing her toward him—was a mistake. I knew it in the marrow of my bones, in the primal part of me that had been screaming since the moment she stepped into my office, her eyes wide with that determined glint. My instincts never failed me. They had carried me through battle, guided me in leading this pack. But when it came to Elara, they were usele
