Inez sensed instantly that Madam Edira had said something wrong because the entire room turned unusually quiet. Killian, who was sitting at the head of the table, ran the tip of his tongue across the front of his teeth. He dropped the fork on the table and said, "Well, unfortunately, the head of the pack is not my brother but me, grandmother. So, you have to listen to me."
He paused before smiling cruelly. "But of course, if you miss him so much, then you are free to walk out of here."
Madam Edira parted her lips. It seemed like she wanted to say something, but after a second, she seemed to have thought things through and closed her mouth. "I never intended to say such a thing." After she finished speaking, she got to her feet and then walked out of the dining area.
Nyx shot a look of pure disappointment at Killian before saying to him, "I never thought that you would hurt Madam Edira like that, Kill. No matter what, you have at least shown enough respect to her."
"What can we expect from someone who lost respect for my Lyra?" Morrineth snorted. She glanced at Killian, who seemed to be smiling, but Inez could sense that there was an undercurrent of rage under that smile. "I expected more from you, Kill; my Lyra deserved a lot more than what you are giving her."
With that, Morrineth left the dining area with her children.
Fortunately, the rest of the pack sensed that Killian was not in a good mood and didn’t bother him.
Inez, too, didn’t want to cause any more stir; thus, she silently finished her meal in a matter of a few minutes. Once she was done, she was prepared to get on her feet and run out of the dining hall, but she was stopped by Killian before she could do that.
"Miss Sinclair, wait a second."
"Do you want something from me?" Inez turned to look at Killian, who was getting on his feet as well now that he was done with his meal.
"Indeed, there is something that I want to speak to you about," Killian said, looking at her.
Inez sighed. Feeling like a child who was going to get a scolding that she didn’t deserve.
She followed Killian out of the dining area, ignoring the many gazes of the submissive wolves who lived under Killian’s wings.
"I am torn if I should applaud you for sustaining this far." Killian turned to look at her, and Inez, for the first time, felt a bit embarrassed in front of him. The smile on his lips dropped as he stated, "Or should I be surprised that you decided to pick a fight with one of my pack members on the very first day of your stay in the pack?"
"It was she who was picking a fight with me. Not the other way round—"
"Inez," Killian interrupted her from speaking any further. "Do I look like I am interested in hearing about what led to the quarrel? I am asking you whether this move of yours was a smart one. You know that they are going to antagonise you. Is it wise to fight against them?"
Inez pursed her lips. A frown etched on her forehead. She said, "I can’t let them sense any weakness. You know that shifters pounce when they sense weakness—"
She had hardly finished speaking when the man shot out and caught her by her wrist. The next second, Inez found herself pushed against a tree trunk with Killian’s warm body pressed against hers.
"Wh–what are you doing?!" Inez stammered as she tried to push the man off her, but Killian was way too strong, and Inez had no strength to push him away, especially when they were in this position.
Her eyes widened as she said to him, "Just what do you think you are doing?" Blood rushed from her neck to her face.
Killian’s lips twisted, and his eyes started to get filled with mirth. He said to her, "Checking where the strength that you speak of is, darling. I don’t think you understand your condition truly, do you?"
Inez turned her head and eyed him warily. The man was completely unapologetic as he stared at her.
He said to her, "Lycans are not forgiving creatures towards those who provoke them. Which is why you need to tread very carefully... You never know when they will lose their temper and attack you. Unless you have the strength to make them bow down to you, I will suggest that you look out for yourself." There was a sliver of warning in his words as he pulled away from her.
Inez turned to look at him with a hint of anger in her eyes.
Noticing that she was not looking convinced, he asked, "Is there something that you want to say to me?"
"I would love to," Inez stated. "However, I would keep my thoughts to myself, Alpha Sokolov." She hated to admit it, but Killian was right. Just now, she faced just a small trailer of the true strength of a lycan, and yet, Inez found herself at the mercy of this man, completely.
Though Killian was nothing but rude to her, Inez knew that he was just looking out for her.
With her wolf gone, there was nothing she could do, thought Inez with a sigh.
Killian arched his brow. "It is good that you are willing to learn so quickly. Try not to provoke Ally; she is quite... impulsive."
"I understand," Inez replied. She was about to turn on her feet and walk away when Killian shot another question, "I heard that sirens could control and command animals; is it true?"
Inez paused and turned to look at him with confusion in her eyes. "We can; what about it?"
The man simply beamed at her as he replied, "Don’t think too much. It was just a question to sate my curiosity."