“Did I?”Ryder responded,considering for a second,then nodded,seemingly satisfied with the convenient excuse.If Ryder had used his Alpha insight,he would have sensed the sheer gravity of his Mate—a woman who had always yearned for public recognition—removing her sacred claim marker.But he was distracted,a soft smile playing on his lips,his mind clearly still dominated by thoughts of Lyra.
Elara forced a silent,brittle chuckle,left his office,and pulled out her comm-link.Lyra had just posted a sensory log on the rival Clan’s social channel.
In one short clip,Ryder,the fearsome Alpha King,was standing in a small kitchen,wearing a human apron,cooking with an expression of intense focus.Ryder despised the preparation of human food.Elara had spent years mastering the Pack’s traditional meals for him.The truth now hit her like a physical blow:Ryder wasn’t unwilling to cook.He was simply unwilling to cook for her.
Following the raw realization,Elara walked to the edge of the Keep’s deep-water training pool.The water shimmered under the fading mountain light,but she felt only the chilling cold of absolute isolation.