ELENA
I kept my expression serene, my shoulders squared, my chin high. The room erupted into applause, but the sound barely registered. Inside, I was frozen, my mind racing to process what had just happened.
Logan had just announced our engagement.
He had done it without asking me. Without a proposal. Without so much as a damn conversation.
I had known that Logan was playing the role of a dutiful Alpha, ensuring the world saw him as strong, connected, untouchable. I had even suspected he would use our alliance to further that image. But I had not expected this.
He probably thought that he was doing me a favor. Protecting Aiden, protecting my secret.
But I didn’t feel any kind of relief.
Instead, I felt trapped.
The room was watching, and I was already too well-trained in the art
