Third POV

Then his phone rang.

The sound cut through the moment. They both froze. The ringtone echoed loudly in the quiet room.

Zavian drew back slowly, breathing hard. He looked at her, his hand still resting on her thigh. Her lips were swollen, her cheeks flushed. The sight made it even harder to think.

“Don’t answer it,” she whispered.

He almost didn’t.

But when he looked at the caller ID, his heart sank. It was Elder Marcellus, the chief of the pack elders.

“I have to,” he said quietly.

Velvet frowned. “Why? Who’s that?”

“It’s from the council,” he muttered, already standing up. “I can’t ignore him.”

Zavian sighed...