Alpha Varion shifted back into his human form completely, with a fluid grace that made my stomach twist. Muscles relaxed, fangs retreating, ears shrinking back into place, yet the raw power in his presence remained in the air, coiled and undeniable. He sank into the chair, the same commanding authority emanating from him even in the calm of his human guise.
He studied me for a long moment, pale blue eyes narrowing just enough to make my pulse spike. Then, in a motion both deliberate and gentle, he extended his hand toward me. I froze, instincts screaming.
No.
Don’t.
Whatever you do, don’t.
My mind raced. He was a predator. He could crush my bones without a thought. And now he wanted to what? Hold my hand?
“Your hand,” he said softly, voice low but carrying the authority of the Al
