I woke to the sound of helicopters.
Not the distant thrum of traffic copters or news crews, but the heavy, purposeful beat of military aircraft circling like vultures. Alexander's arm tightened around my waist, and through our newly formed bond, I felt his instant alertness.
"How many?" I whispered against his chest.
His enhanced hearing was already cataloging the threats. "Four helicopters. Fixed positions around the building. They're not moving to attack—they're establishing a perimeter."
Dawn light was streaming through the penthouse windows, turning Alexander's bedroom into a golden sanctuary. We'd spent the night completing our Luna-Alpha bond, and every cell in my body still hummed with the connection between us. I could feel his heartbeat like it was my own, could sense his emotions as clearly as if they were written on his skin.
But underneath the warmth of our bond, ice was spreading through my veins.
"They're not here for you," I said quietly.
