15

ALINA

Hearing Alexander joke with his friend almost made him seem more human. The punch, though, was harder to overlook. I didn’t understand enough about how men interacted to judge it properly, so I focused on keeping my head down, my body language neutral. Anything to avoid standing out.

Whatever Kilian had whispered to make Alexander strike him, it wasn’t my business. I had to keep repeating that to myself like a chant.

“Asshole,” Alexander muttered, flicking a glance at Kilian. “You’ve met my mate, Alina. And Alina, this is Kilian. You’ll be seeing a lot of him.”

I jolted upright too fast, then froze. Was I supposed to bow? Stay still? My mind scrambled to remember Alexander’s warning: Don’t bow to anyone but me. But this was his friend. Did the rule still apply?

Before I could decide, a firm hand pressed against the back of my neck. The sudden contact made a startled sound climb up my throat, but I bit it back at the last second and swallowed hard.

“Do not bow for anyone,” Alexander growled low beside my ear.

It wasn’t exactly whispered. If Kilian didn’t hear, he wasn’t paying attention. Or he just pretended not to hear. Still, the clarity helped. I straightened my spine and lifted my chin, uncertain but upright.

“It’s nice to meet you, Alpha Kilian.”

I didn’t know what was funny about that, but Kilian burst into laughter, full and loud. Alexander’s fingers dug into the back of my neck, tightening with silent warning.

“Yeah,” Kilian said between laughs, his eyes sliding over me with a gaze too impersonal to be appreciative. “You’re going to have so much fun training this one.”

He gave me another once over, but it felt more like examination than interest. Clinical. Dismissive.

“I give her two weeks, tops.”

Alexander threw something at his head. Kilian ducked, still grinning as he dropped into his seat. Alexander gestured for me to sit back down.

“Let’s go, asshole,” he muttered to his friend.

Kilian groaned, complaining about having to talk business, but Alexander shot him a glare that shut him up fast. He followed, dragging his feet like a boy being called into the principal’s office.

Once the door shut behind them and their footsteps faded, I heard movement from the other woman in the room. I’d nearly forgotten she was there. She’d been that quiet.

“How long have you been here?” she asked, arching a perfectly sculpted brow. “You weren’t here when we came last month.”

She tilted her head slightly. Not hostile, but not exactly welcoming either.

“Um… a few weeks?” I answered, though it sounded more like a question than a statement.

She chuckled, shaking her head like I’d just told her something ridiculous. She didn’t seem remotely concerned that the bloodthirsty men might walk back in any second and snap her neck. Maybe Kilian wasn’t as terrifying as Alexander.

The thought almost made me laugh. Almost. I knew better. The fact that they were close friends told me everything I needed to know. Whatever Alexander admired in people, Kilian likely had in spades.

“You’re not very sharp, are you?”

I blinked at her, startled.

“Sorry?”

She sighed and rolled her eyes like she was already tired of me.

“Alexander’s not exactly the patient type, and he doesn’t repeat himself. So, are you this slow with him too or is this just how you are all the time?”

My mouth opened, then shut. Then it opened again, but no words came out. I didn’t even know how to answer. I didn’t even understand the question.

“Wow,” she murmured. It was so soft I might’ve missed it if I hadn’t been watching her. “It’s going to be interesting watching you try to survive here.”

“Are you from here?” I asked, relieved my voice didn’t shake this time. I was pretty sure she already thought I was dumb. I didn’t want to give her more proof.

“Not exactly. I’m Kilian’s,” she seemed to be finding the right word. “-friend.” She made a face, like the word tasted bad. I had no idea what to make of it, so I didn’t try.

“Let’s just say I’ll be sticking around longer than most of his other girls.”

“Why? Do you like him?” I asked.

She snorted, like I’d told a joke she hadn’t expected.

“Please. If he were the last man on Earth, I wouldn’t touch him with a ten foot pole.”

I nodded, pretending that made sense. They seemed perfectly civil when I walked in. She even greeted me. He just sat there, watching me fumble through my introduction with an amused glint in his eyes, like he already knew who I was, like my awkwardness was entertainment.

Still, he hadn’t been outwardly cruel. That surprised me.

“Word of advice,” she said, shifting closer on the couch, lowering her voice like she was about to tell me something important.

I leaned in instinctively, like we were sharing secrets.

“Alexander hates quiet girls. If you don’t grow a spine fast, he’ll toss you aside.”

She glanced at the door, adjusted her seat again.

“But if you want to get out of here, I’d say keep up the act.”

I almost told her it wasn’t an act. That if I wasn’t perfectly careful, Alexander would end me without a blink. He was a monster in human skin.

Before I could say anything, the door opened.

And that monster returned.

He stepped inside and looked at the two of us. Just looked. But his stare lingered long enough to feel like it was peeling back layers. As if he could read the words that had been exchanged before he entered.

If I ever found out he could actually do that, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised. Men like Alexander always seemed like God’s favorite weapon.