I didn't hear their conversation, but I could feel the ripple it caused—the surge of anger and fear spreading like a warning through unseen pack lines.
Erica's fury burned hot and reckless, and Hayley wasn't far behind. The thought of me living under Elliot's protection had shaken them more than they wanted to admit. To them, it wasn't just shelter—it was proximity to power, to dominance, to him.
And that was enough to turn their instincts hostile.
Hayley had once believed she had me cornered, that her threats would keep me small and cautious. But things had shifted. Without effort, I had stepped into a space she couldn't reach, somewhere beyond her control.
That terrified her.
"Say, Hayley… what if Anastasia marries Elliot one day? What if she comes after us?"
Erica's fear wouldn't have been subtle. It never was. She felt everything loudly, and tonight, it showed.
