LYRA POV
I could sense that Alpha Elias was uneasy. His heartbeat quickened, and the sound of it unsettled me. Why was he nervous? Where were we going? As if in response, my own heart began to race. He glanced at me, wide-eyed, like he was dreading something.
“It’s a few hours away,” he said eventually. “We live pretty secluded. I should probably warn you—it’s not like your old packhouse. It’s nothing fancy. Definitely not as luxurious as what you were used to.”
His heart was still thumping loudly. Was that why he was anxious? Was he worried I’d be disappointed with a less impressive house? That didn’t make any sense.
“Less for me to clean,” I replied simply.
He gave me a strange look that I didn’t understand. I wasn’t joking or trying to be clever—I was just being honest. A smaller h
