KAI POV
I watched Marcus leave Elara's office and knew immediately what had happened. The look on his face. The set of his shoulders. The way he'd finally said whatever he'd been holding back for years. He'd confessed his feelings. And now I was competing with my own Beta. Or rather, Elara's Beta. Because James had made it clear where his loyalties lay when he defected.
"You okay?" James appeared beside me. "You look like someone kicked your dog."
"Marcus just told Elara he loves her." I kept my voice low. "And judging by the fact that he walked out looking relieved instead of rejected, she didn't immediately shut him down."
"Of course she didn't." James leaned against the wall. "Marcus has been there for her since day one. Saved her life. Helped her build Shadow Creek. Been a perfect
