Ezek stood at the edge of the desk, file in hand, his voice low. "The Onyx Pack's movements are off. Their patrol patterns have shifted. It's subtle but deliberate."
Hunter sat back in his chair, his jaw tight, his eyes unreadable. "They're testing our borders."
Ezek nodded. "They want to provoke or distract."
Hunter didn't respond. He reached for the glass on his desk, swirling the amber liquid inside. His silence said enough. His wolf was already restless. "What has the King said about this new development?"
Ezek slowly shook his head. Hunter rolled his eyes, already knowing. "I don't even know why I bother to ask. He's probably wasting away in some brothel or another whorehouse. Fucking dimwit," he gritted out.
"The Queen, on the other hand, has deployed five hundred warriors to the Nythera borders. They will protect the city," Ezek replied.
The door opened before either could speak again.
The sound of heels on the marble-tiled floor filled the air. She stepped into the room like she owned it. Tall, poised, wrapped in a white shirt and a brown leather short skirt. Her blonde hair cascaded over one shoulder, not a strand out of place.
A platinum Noir bag landed on the edge of Hunter's desk with a soft thud.
"Well," she said, her voice silky and smooth, "this place still smells like testosterone and alcohol."
She walked over to where Hunter was sitting and leaned slowly, just enough to press a kiss on his cheek.
Hunter turned his face away, her lips puckered and paused mid-air.
She froze, then scoffed quietly and straightened up. "Still allergic to affection, I see."
She walked over to the chair across from him, every step deliberate. The kind of woman who knew eyes followed her when she moved and demanded it.
Crossing her legs elegantly, she adjusted the hem of her skirt, then flicked her icy gaze toward Ezek. "You look well, Ezek. Still babysitting the grumpiest Alpha in this realm, I see."
"What exactly have you come here for, Kouvr?"
She stared at Hunter. "I didn't know I needed a reason to be here, Hunter."
She then glanced at Ezek, her gaze sharpened, landing on the edge of the folder like a bloodhound catching a scent.
Ezek quickly shifted the file, covering the name boldly written on it, but of course, she caught on to it.
"Still with the Onyx pack?"
Hunter's jaw ticked. "Kouvr…"
She rolled her eyes, leaning back against the chair. "What? I'm just saying." She then leaned forward, licking her lips. "You do know we aren't enemies, right, Hunter? Just because I am my father's daughter doesn't mean anything."
"Kouvr, get to the point."
She sighed. "Until when will you act this way to me?"
Hunter didn't reply; he merely looked at her with a deadpan expression.
Seeing that she wouldn't get a response, Kouvr leaned back against the chair. "To answer you, I only stopped to check on you."
"And you think me ignoring your calls wasn't a clear enough message?"
She smirked. "Come on, since when do you not enjoy a little chase?"
Hunter gave her a look so sharp it could cut glass. "We're not playing anymore, Kouvr."
Her lips parted like she might protest, but then she smiled instead. The kind of smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Fine. Keep acting like I'm the clingy ex when we both know we were more than that."
"We were and are nothing, Kouvr."
The silence that followed was thick. Even Ezek tensed where he stood.
Kouvr's smile faltered, just slightly. "Fine. Be that way." She stood, brushing invisible dust from her skirt.
Hunter didn't bother with a response; he stood up, grabbing his coat. "See yourself out, Kouvr." With that, he walked out.
Kouvr watched him walk away, her fingers clenching and unclenching where she sat. Then, she turned to Ezek, one brow lifting. "What's got him so uptight anyway? Still hasn't fucked that tension away? He was at the auction and even bid for the first time. One would think he would've fucked his uprightness away."
Ezek didn't reply; he merely shrugged. "Please excuse me, Kouvr. I have work to tend to." With that, he also walked away, leaving Kouvr in the office, knowing there was nothing she could do there.
Kouvr walked around the house, her eyes skimming the entire place. It had been a while since she came here; Hunter wouldn't even let her come. She paused, huffing irritably. He was playing hard to get, and it no longer entertained her. She was tired of the constant push and pull. Until when would he hold that against her?
She rolled her eyes, continuing her walk only to stop, her eyes flickered to the left, the door slightly ajar. She noticed a flash of red hair. Familiar. A memory from the auction resurfaced, and Kouvr's lips curled into a thin smile.
The girl was pacing, holding her phone to her ear. Kouvr walked in, catching the end of her conversation. "… Bye, Aunt."
So, this was who Hunter had chosen.
Kouvr stepped inside the room calmly. She didn't rush, allowing the sound of her heels to announce her arrival. Ava turned at the noise, and their eyes met. Kouvr's gaze was icy cold. She studied Ava for a moment, taking in her expression. There was confusion, maybe fear, though she masked it well.
Her lips quirked into a smile. "Well, well. If it isn't the little redhead from the auction house."
Ava's eyes widened slightly, the recognition coming too late. "What?" she asked, her voice a little too high-pitched.
Kouvr looked around the room; it looked like Hunter wanted the girl to feel comfortable. She then looked back at Ava's shocked expression.
Kouvr rolled her eyes at this. This was always the problem with these lowlifes. They whore themselves out at the auction, looking for buyers but will always want to pretend to have some dignity.
She walked past Ava and towards the window, then turned to the redhead. "Oh darling, don't be ashamed. We all have our darkest secrets."
Ava's mouth parted, but no words came out. Her heart pounded, fists clenched by her sides.
Kouvr watched her in silence for a moment, then smiled, stepping closer to Ava. She took a deep breath, and suddenly her eyes went sharper than before, almost predatory. She then turned away from Ava.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" Ava asked.
Kouvr's smile widened.
She brushed a perfectly manicured finger over a nearby vase, not even looking Ava's way when she said it.
"I'm Kouvr," she murmured. "His fiancée."