Hailee's POV
I placed a gentle knock on Nathan's door and drew in a deep breath, composing myself. My palms were damp against the tray I carried.
"Come in," his deep voice called from the other side.
My heart skipped. Slowly, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The room smelled like him—strong, musky, faint traces of smoke from the cigarette he had last night. He was by the window, shirtless, the early light spilling across his back. His muscles moved with every slow breath, his skin tense, his presence filling every corner of the room.
I swallowed hard, keeping my eyes on the tray. "Your coffee, Alpha," I whispered, setting it down carefully on the table near his bed.
For a moment, a tense silence stretched between us. I could feel his eyes on me before I even dared to look.
Finally, he spoke. His tone was very low, as if he was speaking to himself.
"You knock like a stranger. Ten years ago, you would have walked straight in."
