Page 25

Because Ezra knew her number. Because Ezraknew she worked here.And because Ezra was circling, closer and bolder, like a wolf who’d scented blood and was waiting for the right moment to strike.

Jace stepped away from the door, chest tight. His wolf was clawing beneath the surface, pacing restlessly.

Lyra had handled it with grace. She hadn’t flirted. She hadn’t accepted. But she hadn’t told Jace about the flowers. She hadn’t told him Ezra had been sniffing around.

Because she didn’t trust him. Because he hadn’t earned it.

He turned sharply toward the far corner of the office where a small brass bell sat on a ledge—a direct-call enchantment to his beta, Logan.

He struck it once. A softchimerang through the room, and moments later, the door creaked open.

Logan stepped inside, one brow already raised. “You rang?”

“I want eyes on Ezra,” Jace said. “Discreet. Round-the-clock. He’s working something, and I want to know what.”

Logan frowned. “You think he’s breaking Pact?”

“No,” Jace said tightly. “Not yet. But he’s testing the edges. I can feel it.”

“Council’s already keeping tabs.”

“They’re not keeping them close enough.”

Logan nodded slowly, then studied Jace a beat longer. “This about the call Lyra just took?”

Jace’s eyes flicked toward him.

Logan shrugged. “Delia might’ve… mumbled something on her way past the breakroom.”

Jace didn’t reply.

“Look, Alpha,” Logan said gently, “you don’t have to be psychic to see it. You’re twisted up over her. It’s obvious. Even to the cubs.”

“This isn’t abouther.”

“Sure,” Logan said dryly. “You want me to also start tailing anyone who looks at her sideways, or just Ezra for now?”

Jace didn’t rise to the bait.

Logan sighed, rubbed the back of his neck. “She’s strong, Jace. And smart. And yeah, probably not the ‘safe’ choice. But when has anything worth it ever been easy for you?”

Jace didn’t answer.

Logan waited. Then, with a slight nod, turned to go.

“I’ll keep eyes on him.”

The door clicked shut behind him.

Jace sank into the chair behind his desk and stared out the window, hands still clenched. The fog from earlier was burning off now, sunlight breaking through like some damn metaphor he didn’t want.

Lyra had made her choice for tonight.

Not Ezra.

Not him, either.

And maybe that was the problem.