Elise's POV
Riley was hesitant.
I could feel it in the tension of his muscles, in the way he avoided looking directly at me, in the slight rigidity of his body as he held me. My heart pounded in my chest. Lucian gave him an order.
I tried to steady my breathing, but the air felt dense, suffocating. The pressure in my chest grew with each passing second.
He's going to turn me in.
There could be no other reason for his hesitation. Riley had always been loyal to the pack, to his Alpha. Even though his hand trembled slightly against my skin, his duty was clear.
A shiver ran down my spine. I couldn't let this happen.
When he finally lifted me, my body tensed, preparing for the inevitable betrayal. I forced myself to look into his eyes, searching for a sign, any hint that there was still
