Marco’s POV
“Alpha Marco, the guards are assembled in the southwest hallway. They’re awaiting your speech and instructions,” the maid informant walking beside me said.
“That’s good,” I replied, my strides quickening slightly. Dan trailed a few steps behind, silent as a shadow.
He hadn’t said a word since my last utterance—as if he’d taken a vow of silence until whatever weighed between us was resolved. Instead, he simply observed me, eyes sharp and unblinking, like an eagle watching its prey.
Ordinarily, I would admire such vigilance. But under these circumstances, his silence didn’t feel reassuring—it felt suffocating.
“I don’t need you to overexert yourself or go beyond your means for this,” I said, not looking over my shoulder. “It’s my mistake, and I’ll handle it appropriately.”
