The heavy doors of the Alpha’s quarters shut behind Mira with a finality that settled deep in her chest. She stood just inside, muscles taut and senses sharp. The room was larger than any home she had ever known, but it didn’t feel like a place of comfort. Instead, it felt lived-in, marked by Ryker's presence. His scent was strong here—pine, smoke, and something wild and sharp beneath it all. It wrapped around her like a net she couldn’t escape.
“This is unnecessary,” Mira said, her voice flat and edged with frustration.
Ryker’s reply was calm, but there was tension beneath it. “It’s the law.”
She spun to face him, eyes flashing. “The law already took away my choice. Now it takes away my privacy too?”
He exhaled slowly, the sound controlled but heavy. “After the stay, the council deman
