Then,as if to reassert his control,he looked at Elara with a patronizing concern and softly lectured her.“Even if you’re advising a friend,you shouldn’t meet a male wolf—even an Elder—so late outside the Keep’s perimeter.”
His tone carried the usual,distant disapproval he used to assert his status over her.
Elara’s eyes flickered to Lyra,who was pressed tightly against Ryder’s powerful arm.The situation was deeply ironic.This Alpha,who treated her—his claimed Mate—like a distant sister,was treating his real adopted sister like a coveted lover.
Elder Weston abruptly gave a knowing,dry smirk.“Now that I think about it,Alpha Thorne,I haven’t had the pleasure of officially meeting the Mate you claimed for the Pack yet.”
Elder Weston held Elara and Lyra in his gaze,his knowing smile thin and challenging.“Could it be that Alpha Ryder Thorne’s Claimed Mate is—”
“It is none of your concern,Elder,”Ryder interrupted with a fierce,low growl,clearly unwilling to discuss the fractured state of his claim with a Pack outsider.
The Elder nodded calmly,his eyes never leaving Elara.“I apologize,Alpha.These cycles,open claims are quite common among the Northern Packs.Ryder,you must be…”