The Unyielding Heart and a Bitter Taunt

The oppressive silence in Rhys's apartment felt as heavy as the thoughts clearly weighing on his mind. I watched his broad shoulders flex as he poured another drink, the muscles in his back tense beneath his thin white shirt. Despite everything, my body responded to his proximity, a reaction I couldn't fully control.

"Thank you for helping me with my designs," I said, breaking the silence. "You didn't have to stand up to Alpha Orion like that."

Rhys turned, his dark eyes unreadable in the dim light. "I told you, Faye. Silver Moon Pack protects its own."

The way he said it—with such finality and authority—sent a shiver down my spine. This was the power that had drawn me to him from the first moment I'd seen him. The power that had made me accept this dangerous liaison, despite knowing his heart belonged elsewhere.