While Elena slept peacefully, a low growl rumbled from Oliver’s chest. He stared at his computer screen, a furrow etched between his brows. The phone on his desk lay silent, a stark reminder of the abrupt end to his earlier conversation with Elena. Did she really just hang up on him?

Roy, the wolf residing within Oliver, bristled with anger. Elena’s dismissive tone fueled their shared frustration. They missed her terribly, the pull towards their human mate resonating deep within. But did she feel the same? Her response offered little solace.

A gnawing suspicion gnawed at Oliver’s insides. What if she’d found someone else? Was this why she seemed distant,...