El drifts awake slowly this time.
The room is dim, lit only by a lamp in the corner. The antiseptic smell is sharp. The monitor beside her beeps steadily.
She blinks, vision clearing—
And freezes.
The Alpha is sitting in the corner of her room.
Kai is standing near the wall, arms crossed, eyes on her.
Her pulse spikes, the monitor betraying her.
Ryker doesn’t waste time.
“Why were you so important to Alpha Marcus?”
El’s breath catches. Her throat is dry. Before she can answer, Kai steps forward, voice softer.
“El… how are you feeling? Are you up to questions?”
She nods weakly. “Yes.”
Then, quieter: “I don’t know why I was so important to him.”
The heart monitor beeps faster.
Ryker’s eyes narrow. “Liar.”
The word hits her like a slap.
“I do not want to hurt you,” he says, vo
