Chapter 20

• Xander stood on the balcony of his estate, his sharp blue eyes scanning the horizon. The evening air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and distant rain. It was one of the rare moments of quiet he’d had recently, with the chaos surrounding the rogue attacks and the ongoing council investigation. Yet, even as he stood there, a sense of unease lingered, a whisper in the back of his mind that things were far from settled.
• His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of soft footsteps behind him. He turned and immediately tensed when he saw Lucy, her green eyes gleaming with a mix of mischief and calculation. She wore a dress far too extravagant for the occasion, its deep red fabric clinging to her frame in a way that was meant to draw attention. And it was clear who she intended to attract.
• “Alpha Xander,” she purred, stepping closer with a confident sway in her hips. “You’re a hard man to find these days.”