El returns from her run feeling lighter, but the moment she sees the folded note on her cottage table, her stomach drops.
Don’t need breakfast.
Wear whatever you’re comfortable in for work.
No uniform.
—Alpha Ryker
Her chest tightens.
He hated how she looked yesterday.
She must have upset him more than she realized.
A little while later, another knock.
Another note.
Just Alpha Ryker for dinner tonight.
—Kai
She showers quickly, scrubbing until her skin is pink. She shaves. She curls her hair. She puts on her best sundress — soft blue, modest neckline, hem just above the knee. She applies light makeup, careful and precise. She fastens her garter, smoothing it into place.
Then she stands in front of the mirror.
“Okay,” she whispers. “You look good enough.”
She cooks with tremb
