The silence stretched in the room, so heavy that Selene thought even her heartbeat might give her away. None of the brothers spoke. They were strong men, fearless alphas, but in that moment not one of them dared to interrupt.
The man finally turned his head, his eyes steady and calm. When he spoke, his voice was low but carried a weight that pressed into every corner of the room.
"I am Maximus."
The words dropped in the silent room.
Selene blinked in confusion. Maximus? The name meant nothing to her. She searched her memory, trying to recall if she had ever heard it, but nothing came. Her chest tightened with unease.
But the brothers… They froze completely. They did not even need to ask who he was. Their reaction told Selene everything. They knew. And that alone was enough to tell her how serious this man's presence was.
The stranger saw it all, but he did not care. He leaned back slightly, a faint smile on his lips, and spoke again.
