THE ALPHA WHO COULDN'T RECOGNIZE ME

Adrian remained still long after the broken glass had stopped moving, his eyes staying on Elena as she crouched down and carefully gathered the larger pieces with trembling fingers.

"Leave it."

His voice made her stop, and Elena looked up.

Adrian stood several feet away, his expression unreadable. For a moment, she thought he was angry.

Of course he was. She had already caused enough trouble that morning. First, Victoria had accused her of stealing, and then she had dropped a glass in front of the entire household.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

Adrian's jaw tightened.

There it was again, that strange pull inside him.

Mate.

He tried to push the word away, but it refused to disappear.

He had never experienced anything like this. His wolf had always been controlled, disciplined, obedient to his command, yet the moment Elena had looked at him, something inside him had awakened with an intensity he could not explain.

And it made no sense.

She was a servant. He had seen hundreds of servants pass through these halls without giving them a second glance, so why her?

"Take care of the glass," he ordered one of the guards.

The guard immediately stepped forward, while Elena rose and lowered her head.

"Yes, Alpha."

Adrian should have walked away, but instead, his gaze remained on her.

There was nothing remarkable about what she was doing. She simply stood there with her hands clasped in front of her, waiting for permission to leave, yet his wolf remained alert, watching and waiting.

Adrian turned sharply and walked out of the dining hall, with Marcus following him.

Neither spoke until they reached the corridor. Then Marcus glanced at him.

"That's twice now."

Adrian's expression hardened. "Twice what?"

"Twice you've forgotten I was standing next to you the moment she walked in."

Adrian ignored him.

Marcus raised an eyebrow.

Adrian ignored him.

He needed distance. Whatever was happening between him and his wolf would settle if he stayed away from the servant.

At least, that was what he told himself.

The next morning, Adrian went to the training grounds earlier than usual because he needed something that would occupy his mind.

He trained harder than he normally did, striking the practice post with enough force to make his knuckles ache. Every movement was controlled, precise, deliberate, yet his wolf remained restless.

Adrian stopped and clenched his fists.

"What is wrong with you?"

No answer came, only that same inexplicable awareness.

Then he caught a familiar scent, and his entire body went still.

Elena.

His head turned toward the entrance.

She was walking across the far side of the courtyard with a basket of folded clothes in her arms. She did not look toward him and seemed completely unaware that he was watching.

His wolf stirred immediately, and Adrian's jaw tightened as he looked away.

Why was he noticing her now?

Yesterday, she had been invisible to him. Today, he could recognize her scent among dozens of others.

He hated the feeling.

"Alpha?"

Marcus's voice came from behind him, and Adrian turned.

"Nothing."

Marcus followed his gaze toward Elena, but Adrian gave him a warning look.

Marcus said nothing.

Elena disappeared through the doorway, and only then did Adrian realize he had been watching until she was gone.

He exhaled slowly and turned back toward the training grounds.

This had to stop.

Later that afternoon, Elena was carrying a basket of freshly washed linens down the servants' corridor when she heard footsteps behind her.

She immediately moved closer to the wall as the Alpha passed, her heart jumping as she lowered her head.

Adrian should have continued walking, but instead, he slowed.

He had not intended to stop. His mind had been occupied with council matters, but the moment he saw her, his attention shifted.

Elena.

Again.

He stopped.

She sensed him behind her but did not turn around.

"Are you always this nervous around me?"

The question startled her, and she turned slowly.

"I'm not nervous."

Adrian studied her. She was. He could see it in the way her fingers tightened around the basket.

"Then why do you avoid looking at me?"

Elena lowered her eyes.

Because you keep looking at me as though I have done something wrong.

The thought remained unspoken.

"I thought you were angry with me."

Adrian frowned.

"Why would I be angry with you?"

"Because of yesterday."

His expression changed slightly. She was still thinking about the accusation, the necklace, the broken glass, and the way he had looked at her.

"You did nothing wrong," he said.

Elena looked up.

For a brief moment, neither spoke. Something about the way she looked at him made the strange pull inside his chest return.

Adrian stepped back, and Elena noticed. Confusion crossed her face.

He had just told her she had done nothing wrong, yet he looked as though standing near her was difficult.

"Alpha?"

Adrian forced his expression back into its usual calm.

"Go."

Elena nodded quickly.

"Yes, Alpha."

She walked away, and Adrian watched her leave.

He hated that he did. He hated that his eyes followed her until she disappeared around the corner.

Only then did he turn away.

For the first time in his life, Adrian found himself facing something he could not command into silence.

His wolf was trying to tell him something, and no matter how hard he resisted, the feeling was becoming impossible to ignore.