92

ALEXANDER

The moment I stepped through the front door, something felt off. It was anything obvious, no overturned furniture or blaring alarm, but the air itself seemed heavier, like it had been holding its breath while I was away. I tried to push the feeling aside. Whatever it was, it could wait. Right now, I just wanted to get to my bed and pretend, for a few hours, that life was normal.

They say if you go looking for trouble, you’ll find it. I hadn’t even gone looking yet, but it found me anyway, standing there at the foot of the stairs with a smug grin.

“You look like shit,” Claude said, as if greeting me with a warm welcome home.

“Why was my car late?” My voice was flat, but my eyes stayed locked on him.

He had never once been late to anything in his life.

“Why don’t you rest and we’ll deal with that later? You made it back in one piece, that’s all that matters.” He clapped a hand on my shoulder as I walked past, all easy charm and no answers. I instantly had a lot of questions.

I filed that away. Claude avoiding a question was like a wolf avoiding meat, it didn’t happen unless there was something behind it. But my head was still a mess from everything I’d learned in Japan, and I didn’t have the energy to pick a fight right now.

When I opened my bedroom door and found it empty, I felt a rush of relief that almost made me exhale. No Alina. No tense silence or awkward conversation. The relief came with a shadow of disappointment I didn’t care to examine too closely. Claude’s comment about her being bored had been gnawing at me, but I hadn’t let myself think of a solution. Or even think of her. Though, that wasn't easy.

I stripped down and got into bed the way I preferred, naked, after taking a vial of wolfsbane. The burn tore through my body, but I welcomed it. Pain was a cleaner way to knock myself out than letting my mind run wild.

When I opened my eyes again, the room was dim, the sky outside nearly black. My muscles screamed in protest, a deep heat thrumming in every joint. I forced myself into the shower, letting the hot water pound over my skin until it eased some of the fire.

When I came out, towel slung low on my hips, I noticed a tray by the bed, aspirin and cold water. Claude’s doing, no doubt. I swallowed the pills without a second thought, then pulled on fresh clothes and made for my office.

Avoiding Alina? Maybe. I wasn’t about to say it out loud, but I wasn’t blind to my own habits.

Claude was waiting for me outside the office door. “Ah, you’re finally awake. You scared me a little.”

“Please.” I rolled my eyes. “You wouldn’t bat an eyelash if you saw me with a dagger through my heart.”

“That’s because I know you’d just cheat death,” he said without missing a beat, “and come back looking smug about whatever deal you struck with the devil.”

“Hell isn’t big enough for the both of us,” I replied as I unlocked the door.

“Then maybe try being a decent person so you end up in heaven.”

I let out a dry sound from the back of my throat. “That’s a worse punishment than hell.”

I took my seat behind the desk while he dropped into the chair across from me. “Now, tell me what’s happened while I’ve been gone.”

He leaned in, lowering his voice like he was about to share state secrets. “Did you know the groundskeeper and the cook are having an affair?”

I gave him a flat look. “We’re not in a soap opera, and I don’t give a shit. Start with something I actually want to hear.”

He pouted, like a child denied dessert. “What happened to your sense of humor? I thought vacations were supposed to make people relaxed.”

“You know damn well it wasn’t a vacation. And even if it had been, I’d still be tense after leaving the pack in your hands.” I smirked when his expression soured. “See? My humor’s intact.”

“That wasn’t funny,” he said dryly.

“Doesn’t matter. I think I’m hilarious.”

“I pity Alina for having to spend her life with you. Your jokes will be the death of her.”

“Oh, please. Don’t bring her up.”

“You’re still sulking about the bed thing? Jesus, Alex?” He ran a palm down his face.

“Did you just call on Jesus?” I arched a brow. “Isn’t that a little blasphemous coming from you?”

“As long as you said it and didn’t burst into flames, I think I’m safe.”

I couldn’t stop the corner of my mouth from twitching upward. “Don’t worry. I’ve got a deal with him too—no offense taken.”

He opened his mouth, but I cut him off. “And yes, I believe you when you say nothing happened while I was gone. I trust you.”

Claude blinked. “That was… quick.”

“Like you said, I had time to think. And I realized I overreacted.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Okay, who are you and what have you done with my brother? Maybe I should call her and ask what poison she slipped you to give you manners.”

“She sends her regards.”

“Yeah, right.” He scoffed. “Keep telling yourself you’re the charming brother.”

“One of us has a mate,” I said pointedly, “and it’s not you.”

He flipped me off before standing to leave.

“Hey,” I called after him. “We actually need to—”

“The report’s on your computer, asshole,” he yelled from the hallway.

I shook my head, laughing under my breath as I turned to the glowing screen. For the next few hours, I let the numbers and reports drown out everything else.