Seven

~Killian~

I could not sleep at all that night, and at first light I woke up from a restless sleep. My conscience ached from the weight of my decisions, but I was unable to focus on them for very long. I stepped outside into the cool morning air to find comfort in the pulsating tap of training and to try to let go of the lingering anger and frustration.

The training ground turned into my haven, a place where the sound of punches overpowered the numerous voices in my head. Every hit felt good, a brief escape from the confusion that surrounded my role in Adinah's scheme for retaliation. I didn't know why I had decided to be a part of it, but one thing remained clear to me: I wanted to see her happy.

As the sparring session came to an end, I was both relieved and out of breath. A sense of purpose stuck to me as I dabbed at the perspiration on my brow. Maybe it was just my selfish need to see Adinah smile, or maybe it was my way of atonement, helping her find closure.

I felt agitated as I left the training area and made my way to the dining room. With a creak, the door opened to reveal a scene that suggested an unsaid tension. Adinah sat at the table, her eyes flickering past mine for a fleeting moment. But Sienna kept staring at me longer than I should have, a scrutiny that made me uneasy even now.

"Morning," I muttered, my voice carrying the weight of an unspoken understanding. Adinah's response was a subtle nod, her eyes betraying a mixture of gratitude and uncertainty.

Sienna's gaze, on the other hand, felt like a puzzle. She observed me, her eyes probing for answers I wasn't willing to provide. The air thickened with tension, and I decided to break it.

"Did I interrupt something?" I asked, keeping my tone neutral. Sienna's smile, too sweet to be genuine, faded, replaced by a more composed expression.

"Just morning chit-chat," she replied, glancing at Adinah before turning her attention back to me. "Nothing you need to worry about."

Adinah's eyes darted between Sienna and me, sensing the underlying currents. I chose not to dwell on it, opting to focus on the present. Taking a seat, I acknowledged the brewing beef but refused to let it get to me.

I would only offer help when she tells me to.

While I was still in my thought, Jeremy seemed to revel in the attention he was getting from both Adinah and Sienna, pushing boundaries with subtle touches.

His sly grin met my gaze, his fingers tracing a dangerous path on Adinah's leg under the table. "So, your majesty, enjoying the view?" he taunted, a smirk playing on his lips.

Adinah shot him a warning look, but I couldn't shake the unease that settled in the pit of my stomach. Jealousy, an unexpected visitor, reared its head, fueled by a bizarre sense of irritation at his audacity.

"I wouldn’t touch what’s mine if I were you," I gave out a simple threat with a cool tone. Although the tension in the room had already reached a boiling point, and I couldn't stand witnessing the spectacle any longer.

Storming out of the room, I left so I could have a bit of my sanity intact before the main battle would begin. My Beta, Devin met me in the hallway, concern etched on his face.

"What happened back there?" he inquired, his voice cautious. My sour mood didn't go unnoticed.

"Not now," I replied tersely, sidestepping his attempts to probe further. My mind was a tempest of conflicting emotions, and I had no desire to dissect them in that moment.

He persisted, his gaze following me as I paced the hall. "You can't keep avoiding this, Killian. It's affecting you, and it's affecting the pack."

"Let me deal with it on my own terms," I muttered, my frustration visible. With a sigh and an understanding nod, it signaled a temporary retreat, but the questions lingered in the air.

Stepping outside the house, I took solace in the patrol's familiarity. As I strolled around the grounds, the night air enveloped me, Devin still came to some of our scheduled meetings with me.

***

Evening descended, and I finally returned to the palace. However, my peace was short-lived as I encountered Adinah waiting in front of my room.

"Whatever, it is, I'm not in the mood," I stated, my exhaustion evident in my voice.

She fixed me with a determined gaze. "I have an offer," she declared, her tone brimming with urgency.

I sighed, unlocking my room door. "Make it quick then."

Entering my room, she hesitated before speaking. "Jeremy was jealous when he came to dinner. It bothered him to see you steal all the attention from Sienna."

I shrugged, indifferent to the revelation. "Not my concern."

"But it could be," she insisted. "I need your help for one more thing."

I raised an eyebrow, skeptical but willing to hear her out.

"I want you to pretend to be attracted to me," she said bluntly, her eyes searching mine for a reaction.

I recoiled at the suggestion, my instinctive response sharp. "Absolutely not."

Her expression faltered, remorse evident in her eyes. "I shouldn't have asked. I'm sorry, Your Majesty."

She turned away and was about to leave my room when I suddenly felt a wave of resentment and mixed feelings wash over me. I suddenly had the urge to grab her arm and pull her back, pinning her against the wall.

"What are you playing at, princess?" I demanded, my voice low and intense.

She met my gaze, a mix of surprise and vulnerability in her eyes. "I-I didn't mean to upset you. I just thought it could help with Jeremy. I shouldn't have—"

My hands grew tighter, not because I was angry but rather because I was silently annoyed by how complicated the whole thing was. Adinah, stop playing games. That isn't a fix.

With her apology hanging in the air, she fell silent. As we stood there, both dealing with the fallout from a suggestion that had gone too far, the room seemed charged with an unsaid tension.