Chapter 5 New Home

Everything inside me went cold. Slowly, I turned around. The Alpha’s smile was gone. His expression was calm.. “What?”

He stepped closer until his shadow fell over me completely. The difference in our heights suddenly felt very noticeable. His hands remained clasped behind his back, his expression calm, almost gentle, but there was something unnerving about the way he looked at me. Like he could see far more than he should. 

"I know you were the one who killed that man, Kora," he said quietly. Behind him, Karlton stood a few feet away, watching the exchange with narrowed eyes. 

My stomach tightened immediately.

Deny it, Kora. Deny everything.

My mother's voice echoed through my head as clearly as if she were standing beside me. 

I swallowed hard. "I didn't—"

The Alpha clicked his tongue and shook his head. "I mean you no harm, Kora. You'll come to understand that eventually. But I won't be able to stop my men from carrying out their duties if they continue searching for this killer." His gaze never left mine. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"

I ground my teeth together, irritation rising through my chest. "You have no proof."

"I can make one," he replied instantly.

That made me pause.

My brows furrowed. "Why are you doing this? Why not just let them arrest me?"

To my surprise, he smiled. A warm one. The kind that made him look years younger and strangely handsome. A completely ridiculous thought entered my mind then. I wondered if Karlton had inherited that smile from his father. Then I immediately hated myself for noticing anything about Karlton at all.

The Alpha's smile softened. "I can't let them do that, Kora. First, because I know what it means to do terrible things in order to survive. Second..." His expression grew serious. "Because you're too young to have your life thrown to the wolves."

I blinked.

"But you are a wolf."

For a second, silence hung between us.

Then the Alpha laughed.

"By the gods, I am." He placed a hand over his chest dramatically. "A tragic flaw, I know."

Despite myself, my lips twitched.

His expression became serious again. "But I promise you this. If any harm comes to you from me or from my people, you are free to do exactly what you did to that man in the woods." His silver eyes held mine. "On that, I swear."

I stood there frozen, confused, and more conflicted than I had been in years. None of this made sense. This man owed me nothing. I was a stranger. Worse than a stranger. I was a potential threat. Yet he was offering me shelter, protection, and trust when he had every reason not to. I still didn't know what he wanted from me. I still didn't understand why he cared. But despite all my instincts screaming at me to run, I couldn't find a single trace of malice coming from him. 

Not that I trusted my own judgment. I barely understood my abilities. Still... what other choice did I have? Outside these walls waited cold nights, empty stomachs, and soldiers searching for a killer. Inside, the worst threat seemed to be Karlton Ringdom and his terrible personality.

Mother... what do I do? Do I keep running? Or do I stay? Tell me what to do.

"If you've made up your mind," the Alpha said gently, turning away, "then come eat. Very soon you'll be starting school."

I stared at his back.

"School?"

He hummed.

"You want to go, don't you?"

"I mean—"

"Eat, Kora."

The command cut off whatever excuse I had been about to make. He pulled out a chair for me before returning to the table. Hesitantly, I followed and lowered myself into the seat. 

Unfortunately, it happened to be directly across from Karlton, who still hadn't stopped staring at me with those infuriating silver eyes.

The Alpha settled into his own chair and clapped his hands together. "Now then. Shall we?"

We began eating. Or at least, everyone else did.

I was too busy trying not to inhale every dish on the table at once.

A few moments later, Karlton's voice sliced through the room.

"I'm surprised you know how to use a spoon."

I slowly looked up. "Excuse me?"

He shrugged casually. "I'm just impressed."

His lips curved into a mocking smile as he lifted his spoon and dragged his tongue along the edge before setting it down. For one deeply unfortunate second, my brain stopped functioning. Heat flashed across my skin.

Then he opened his mouth again.

"You know.. with you being a pig from the gutter and all."

The heat vanished and in its stead was pure rage.

Before I could think better of it, my hand closed around the nearest glass of water. I lifted it and threw the entire thing directly at his face.

The splash echoed through the room.

Karlton froze. Water dripped from his hair, down his cheeks and off his nose.

I smiled sweetly. "Oops. Forgive me. I completely forgot which direction the glass was supposed to go." I tilted my head. "You know... being a pig and all."

For a moment, I genuinely thought smoke might start pouring from his ears with how pissed off he was.. His jaw clenched. His eyes narrowed.

I glared right back.

Across the table, his father threw his head back and laughed so hard I thought he might choke.

"Oh," he said between laughs, wiping tears from the corners of his eyes. "We're going to have so much fun."