WILLOW'S POV.
I glanced once at Atlas. He was already looking at me—calm on the surface, but with something flickering in his eyes I didn’t care to know.
I gave a small bow and turned to leave, but Atlas spoke before I reached the door.
“Willow.”
It seemed he was making it a habit to address me without my title now.
I stopped, keeping my back to him. “Yes, Alpha?”
He hesitated. I heard him shift behind me, like he was searching for the right words to say.
“Earlier…” His voice was calmer now. “I realized I may have really made you uncomfortable. It wasn’t my intention—”
I turned slowly, meeting his gaze again. “It’s fine,” I said. “You don’t have to explain yourself.”
His jaw flexed. “Maybe I do.”
I arched my brow. “And why is that?”
“Because I don’t understand what’s happening,
