Laila's POV
The invitation arrived like an unwanted notice for jury duty.
Jacob set the heavy cream envelope on my desk with the same precision he used for contracts and quarterly reports.
"Alpha Bradshaw is hosting a business summit with one of the pack's major partners," he explained, his tone neutral, but his eyes wary. "As a newly signed partner, your presence is… expected."
Expected. Not requested. Expected.
The embossed letterhead gleamed under the fluorescent light—Moon Ridge Pack Business Summit. Gold script. Black tie. Tonight.
I stared at it until the words blurred. Every instinct in me screamed run. Make an excuse. Claim Ava needed me. Pretend to be sick. Anything to avoid setting foot into Jason Bradshaw's territory again.
But excuses would raise questions. Questions I
