Clara’s POV
The moment stretched between us, tense and electric. I couldn't have moved if I wanted to, trapped not just by his weight but by whatever was happening in that shared gaze.
"Alpha!"
The shout shattered the silence. Alpha Darius's head snapped up, his body instantly tense. A man stood at the courtyard entrance, then froze when he saw our position.
"I... I'm sorry, Alpha," he stammered, his eyes widening. "I didn't realize—"
In one fluid motion, Alpha Darius pushed himself off me and stood. His face returned to that unreadable mask, though I didn't miss the tension in his jaw.
"What is it, Beta Xander?" His voice was cold, giving no hint of what had just happened.
"The scouts have returned from the eastern border," Beta Xander said, his eyes darting between us. "They're wa
