Ivan appeared in the doorway, his hands buried in his pockets as his eyes scanned the room, pinning each Alpha who had been cheering Axel.
The noise died at once, cut off as if a switch had been flipped. All attention shifted, silence heavy in the air.
Ivan did not look at Axel, not once. His face was unreadable, fixed on the others, though there was something different, something less calm than usual.
Axel forced himself to move, pretending to be busy, to be unbothered. He climbed onto a treadmill, his hands slightly clumsy as he tried to figure out the controls.
His eyes skimmed over the labels until he pressed a few buttons and the belt began to move. He walked... every step too stiff. His body betrayed him with how tense he was.
Dallas looked as though he wanted to follow him, but one glance at Ivan was enough to make him hesitate and stay back.
