Devon didn't.
Lucien tried again. "Devon."
Still nothing.
Finally, the Alpha's fingers brushed Devon's jaw, gentle, warm, and guided his face up. Their eyes met. Devon's eyes were bright with unshed tears. Lucien's expression shifted instantly, shock, anger, worry, all tangled together.
"Devon," he whispered, "you misunderstood."
Devon swallowed hard. "Did I?"
Lucien parted his lips to answer.
But then Rowan barged in again, out of breath. "Alpha, we have a problem. A big one. Redstone's warriors just crossed the border."
Devon's heart stopped.
Lucien's gaze snapped to him, suddenly fierce.
"Stay with me," the Alpha ordered.
But Devon… wasn't sure he could. Not when his heart had already begun to crack.
The tension in the mansion was thick enough to taste. Redstone warriors had been spotted near the border. Lucien sent Rowan to strengthen security, but instead of following them, instead of responding as a commander and Alpha… He turned back to Devon.
