A flicker of displeasure crossed Aliona's face the moment I stepped into the office. I could feel it immediately—sharp, territorial, like a lower-ranking wolf irritated by an unexpected intrusion into a space she thought she was currently influencing. Her gaze cut toward me, and I could sense her frustration beneath the polished exterior.
She clearly hadn't expected me to appear now. The timing disrupted whatever exchange she was having with Elliot, and the tension in the room shifted instantly, like a disturbed pack boundary reacting to a sudden breach.
Elliot's gaze lifted toward me at once.
There was a conflicted pull in his expression, but beneath it I felt something stronger—relief, or recognition, like an Alpha sensing the presence of a familiar bond thread cutting through an unwanted conversation. For a brief second, I thought I saw satisfaction in his eyes.
I steadied myself quickly.
