Chapter 5

JOURNEE'S POV

My feet stopped moving before my brain caught up with why. The door was barely open, my hand still on the frame, but the two sets of eyes now locked on me weren't going anywhere — and neither, apparently, was I. At this point, my new name should be 'Journee the Slipper', because why the hell do I keep slipping into people mid conversations?

First, I accidentally walked in on Kingston and Mrs. Cross practically committing a crime on school property. If it were to be someone else, Mrs. Cross wouldn't have walked away that easily.

And now?

I'm standing frozen outside a classroom door with alpha Kane staring deep into my soul like he was contemplating if he should bury me or not.

For one horrifying second, I genuinely considered pretending I wasn't there. Maybe if I stayed completely still, they would somehow forget I existed, right? Because this was the second time in less than a week that I had stumbled into a conversation I absolutely was not supposed to hear.

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence. Neither of them spoke. But the silence wasn't exactly what bothered me, it was Kingston.

Kingston looked like he had just seen a ghost. He didn't seem angry or annoyed that I had been listening, He looked horrified, actually horrified. His eyes were locked completely to mine, like he was scared of looking away. Then realization hit, sending a chill down my spine.

"Journee."

The Alpha's voice was smooth and controlled like I hadn't just witnessed him screaming at his son a few moments ago. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would have sworn I imagined it.

I swallowed hard. "Hi."

Hi? What the hell was wrong with me? That was all that could come out of my mouth? When I had just accidentally walked into what felt like the world's most uncomfortable family reunion and thatwas my response? Absolutely brilliant.

For a moment, Alpha Kane simply stared at me. Then to my complete surprise, he smiled. And that somehow even felt far worse.

"I didn't realize we had company." He said pleasantly.

"I wasn't eavesdropping," the lie came out so quickly, I almost impressed myself. His eyebrow lifted slightly, like he didn't believe the words that came out of my mouth.

"I mean ... " I cleared my voice. "I kind of was. Accidentally. I'm sorry, I just couldn't help it." I mean, who wouldn't?

Then he laughed, actually laughed. The sound just sounded so genuine, nothing like the harsh voice I heard moments ago. It was such a dramatic shift that I almost questioned my memory.

"Oh, I like her."

My gaze immediately shifted towards Kingston. Big mistake.

His expression somehow looked worse. The tension in his body had become the most unbearable to look at. His shoulders were rigid, his jaw clenched so tightly that I could hear his teeth grinding together and there was something in his eyes that looked suspiciously like panic.

Because if Kingston Reyes was panicking, then I, Journee Sinclair should probably be running.

"Come here."

Every instinct in my body screamed at me not to. Unfortunately, refusing a powerful alpha definitely didn't sound like a good choice. I reluctantly stepped into the room, the closer I got, the more uncomfortable I became. Every step felt wrong, I could feel it in my gut.

"You're Alpha Darven's daughter," he said, and he wasn't asking a question.

"Yes I am."

"Hmm."

His gaze lingered on my face longer than necessary, studying me so intensely that it made me want to fidget. For a second, something strange flickered through his expression, like he had just remembered who I am, then it disappeared just as fast as it came.

"You know," he said thoughtfully, "Kingston never talks about his friends."

His friends?

I nearly choked. Because as far as I can remember, Kingston and I were as far from friendship as two people could get. I glanced at him and immediately wished I hadn't. He looked like he wanted the earth to split open and swallow him alive.

"I don't think we are friends Alpha Kane," I admitted carefully.

Alpha Kane laughed again. And honestly, it was beginning to make my stomach twist, I might end up sitting on the toilet after this.

"Well, that's a shame. He should learn how to, so I wouldn't mistake one for another."

A muscle jumped in Kingston's jaw. I noticed and his father noticed too. I knew he noticed because his eyes flickered towards him for the briefest moment.

Then, as casually as if nothing happened, Alpha Kane stepped closer and placed his hands on his shoulder. The gesture should have looked fatherly and normal, instead, Kingston immediately stiffened a bit.

The reaction was so subtle that most people would have missed it.

I didn't.

"If my son has been causing you trouble, then I apologize on his behalf," Alpha Kane continued.

"He's not always very ... polite."

I blinked.

For a second, I wondered if I'd hit my head somewhere, because this conversation made absolutely no sense. The same man who called Kingston a disappointment less than five minutes ago was now smiling warmly and apologizing for him. Someone wake me up please.

'It's fine," I said awkwardly. "No, it isn't." he signed dramatically. "Kingston has always been difficult."

I watched Kingston stare straight ahead without saying a single word. I didn't know why, but something about his whole silence bothered me more than it should have.

Then Alpha Kane's attention returned to me. "I was actually hoping to meet you."

That caught me completely off guard.

“Me?"

"Of course." His smile deepened. "You're one of the brightest students in the university. And your father speaks very highly of you whenever your name comes up."

My father rarely spoke highly of anybody, including me.

Before I could respond, Alpha Kane continued. "I'd love you to join us for dinner tomorrow evening."

My brain immediately stopped functioning. "What?"

The word escaped me at the same time as Kingston.

"No." Kingston said and the room went silent. My gaze fell on him for a moment, he didn't seem to like the offer at all.

Alpha Kane chucked softly and patted his son's shoulder. "There he goes again." He said, his grip on his shoulder tightened "I told you he was difficult."

The look on Kingston's face made my stomach twist uncomfortably again. Oh goodness, I wanted to use the restroom so bad.

Alpha Kane ignored him completely again and turned to me.

"So? What do you say?"

Every instinct I possessed told me to refuse politely and disappear, probably fake my own death if possible. But this was an Alpha everyone feared, including his own son. What good would it do if I declined?

I looked at Kingston for what felt like forever, searching for something, anything. But he looked back at me with the same terrified eyes like it was totally out of his control.

So I forced a smile.

"Sure."

The satisfaction that flashed across Alpha Kane's face was immediate. Beside him, Kingston closed his eyes, accepting defeat.

And for some reason, that scared me far more than accepting the invitation.