Rufford’s POV
Why hasn’t she come back yet? The question circled in my mind, relentless and heavy. I thought the dinner would barely stretch past an hour, maybe less given Eloise’s temperament. But now, two hours had crawled by, and not even a glimpse of her silhouette had graced the doorway.
The unease gnawed at me, growing with every tick of the clock. Tyrone had entrusted her to me—a duty I had accepted without hesitation. Yet, here I was, pacing like a restless predator, uncertain of her whereabouts after she had left to dine with the alpha.
The alpha. My thoughts lingered bitterly on him, the memory of their earlier encounter replaying in my mind. Eloise’s disdain for him was no secret; it radiated from her like a tangible force, sharp and unyielding. The way she looked at him, her
