The city went quiet in the way only predators notice.
Not silence—attention. Like every alley, rooftop, and flickering streetlight had turned its face toward them.
Ari felt it before she saw him.
The pull slid through her chest, colder than the bond, heavier than desire. Ancient. Commanding. It pressed against her lungs until breathing felt like defiance.
“He’s close,” Lennox said, voice low.
Dante stood at the shattered doorway, shoulders squared, Alpha control rolling off him in measured waves. “He wants to be seen.”
The elevator dinged.
Once.
Footsteps echoed down the hall—unhurried, confident. Each step landed like punctuation.
Then he appeared.
The old Alpha looked human at first glance. Tall. Silver threaded through dark hair. Expensive coat draped over broad shoulders like
