A Deceptive Web and an Alpha's Misguided Fury

The phone felt heavy in my hand as I waited for Rhys to respond. Standing outside Wolf's Den Coffee, I caught myself smiling at his last message. Despite everything, those three words—"I miss you"—still made my heart flutter.

"You look happy," Rowan commented as he joined me outside. "Knight texting you sweet nothings?"

I tucked my phone away. "Something like that."

My phone rang suddenly, Rhys's name lighting up the screen. That was fast. Usually, he preferred texting.

"It's him," I said to Rowan, who raised his eyebrows.

"Better answer before he sends a search party," he joked, then pressed a finger to his lips in a playful shushing gesture. "Don't tell him I'm here. He already looks at me like I'm competition."

I rolled my eyes but nodded as I answered. "Hello?"

"Where are you?" Rhys's voice was tight, controlled in a way that immediately set me on edge.