Chapter 26: The CollapseThe silence in his office after Elara’s stand was deafening. Her words, “I don’t need saving. I need you,” echoed in the space, dismantling every logical, controlled argument he had built. The noble lie was ash in his mouth.He had expected her to accept his coldness. He had prepared for her anger. He was utterly defenseless against her unwavering belief in him.For a long moment, he just stared at her, his chest so tight he could barely breathe. The carefully constructed walls of the alpha—the sarcasm, the dominance, the control—began to visibly crack. His jaw trembled. His