I froze the moment I met Elliot's eyes. His brows were furrowed, and his gaze carried a biting chill, like ice wrapped around steel. The air felt heavier around him, thick with the pressure of an Alpha who hadn't fully reined in his temper. My instincts reacted before my thoughts could catch up, and a shiver ran through me as my legs weakened slightly. I stood there, stiff and uncertain, caught between the urge to leave and the pull that always seemed to anchor me in place when it came to him.
Before I could decide, he was already walking toward me. With each step, the sharp edge of his anger began to fade, the coldness in his eyes softening into something warmer. It wasn't less dangerous—just quieter, like a predator choosing restraint instead of attack.
"Did I scare you?" he asked, his voice low and controlled, but still carrying that undeniable authority.
