Aliona’s POV
The knock on my door came just after sunrise. I had barely slept; my body still ached faintly, though my healing had erased most of the concussion. My wolf, Mystic, murmured in the back of my mind, restless.
“Come in,” I called, pushing aside the blanket.
Julian stepped inside without waiting for me to grant permission fully. His face was carved with tension, his eyes sharp, his shoulders rigid. I recognized the expression immediately—Alpha mode. He wasn’t here as Julian, my employer, or the man who smiled when I brewed his coffee just the way he liked. He was here as Alpha of Silverstone.
“Get ready,” he said curtly. “We’re going to another pack.”
I blinked, startled. “Another pack? Which one?”
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he strode to my window, pulled the cur
