The entire day,she buried herself in work.Elara performed her duties flawlessly,but with every task completed,she was mentally severing another piece of her connection—letting go of her loyalty to Ryder and the illusion of the life she had desperately clung to for five years.
It was late afternoon when Ryder finally returned to his office suite.He seemed lighter,the primal worry gone,replaced by a satisfied,almost joyous disposition.When Elara entered to give her final report,she caught the faint,lingering scent of Lyra’s sharp,rival Pack musk on his clothing.
While flipping through her documents,Ryder abruptly noticed her bare ring finger.“Why is your Claiming Ring off your hand?”he asked,his golden eyes narrowing slightly.
Elara met his gaze without flinching.“Did you not command me to keep it off?You didn’t want the lower Ranks to know of our bond.And yours,Alpha,has never left your private safe,”she answered calmly.