Word Count: 1646

~Avia

Kadrick passes back and forth in my room, dappled streaks of moonlight tracing his person.

"I can't stand him," he mutters distractedly, hands clenched firmly at his sides.

I loung back on the bed, chewing mindlessly on a snack I retrieved earlier from the kitchen. Kadrick is struggling with the same initial feelings that consumed me when I arrived. He may not have experienced the consequences of Isaiah's reign to the same extent I have, but that, and yet the anger he grapples with is fiery and hot, compared to mine, which simmers at a cold, dark intensity. I've had years to cry, to scream and truly feel the anger from my parents death, from my life circumstances before and after that life altering event. Now, I'm merely bitter, glacial.

"How do you think I feel?" I sigh tiredly, pondering the last few weeks. Everyone at the compound, including Kadrick, is aware of my faltering determination.

Being exposed to Isaiah has revealed more to me than I thought. I expected arrogance, hatred and a disinterest for anyone but himself. There may be those traits, reflective of his position, but they aren't so deeply embedded into his person as I thought.

But saving him isn't an option. It never has been.

"The way he looks at you...Like he wants to eat you alive," Karick grits out, pausing his incessant pacing to lock eyes upon me. "Maybe Malin was wrong."

"I doubt he actually wants me. He's taunting me, waiting for me to be ensnared in his trap," I scramble, pulling myself out of my plush pillows. Kadrick's fluffy hair now an unkempt mess, sticking up at all angles as he rakes his hands through the strands, close to tearing them out.

"What did he offer you the other night?"

Damn. He caught that. "Essentially, he offered to fuck me."

Kadrick stiffens. I feel bad for lying to them, but admitting that would mean they would expect more out of me than I can currently give them. Just because Isaiah is ready to tumble into bed with me does not mean he trusts me enough to feed me information. That takes time, commitment to the act, which I'm slowly learning to master as the days pass.

"And yet you're telling the group he doesn't want you?" Kadrick's tone is heavy, carrying hints of anger, jealousy and confusion. I can't blame him. He's facing a situation I couldn't possibly comprehend being in myself.

"He doesn't, okay? Like I said, this is a game to him. He enjoys seeing people submit for him, seeing them melt under his stare."

I get to my feet, passing Kadrick by to tug my dresser opening. Once I'm done with this mission, I will miss the simple luxuries of having a full draw of clothing for me to wear, all well made and not stolen or dirty. Pulling out a night dress, I examine the soft lilac colour under the moonlight.

"Not only do I have to be in his presence, I have to watch him seduce my girlfriend," Kadrick murmurs, voice barely above a whisper. "And why did no one tell me he was that tall and well-built?"

I smile, amused. I wondered the exact same thing when I first saw the Alpha in person as well, my mouth having dried a little at his staggering height and impressive stature. The broadcasts of him don't do him justice. And for Kadrick, who is near obsessed with his own appearance, I can't imagine what he is thinking when he's in Isaiah's presence.

"You don't need to be intimidated," I assure him, pausing in front of him, running my hand down his arm, smiling warmly at him.

Some of the tension vanishes from his shoulders. "You held your ground today. I appreciate that."

"You're my partner, Kadrick." A dark cloud of pressure drapes itself over me. The balance between seducing Isaiah and ensuring my relationship with Kadrick is preserved is a careful line to navigate. "I wasn't about to let him speak to you like that."

Kadrick steps away as I pull my shirt off, and then my pants, standing bare before the window, the milky light and shadows bathing my body. Were Isaiah to walk in, there would be no explaining this situation.

"It's so hard being in his presence....I could kill him, I honestly had to restrain myself," Kadrick sighs, eyes tracing me as I slip my night dress on, my limbs suddenly wary with fatigue.

And he could kill him. But that would come with it's own host of problems.

"The time will come," I tell him firmly, my gaze sharp with warning as I clamber into bed. The last thing we need is for Kadrick to mess this mission up with his anger, that he allows himself to feel so passionate and freely, never bothering to try to restrain it. "I need to speak to the girl's families. And I need to find out more about this Elise girl."

"Tomorrow morning, you make him think something happened between us...Uplift as much doubt as possible," Kadrick reminds me, to which I nod numbly.

"I will," I breathe, smiling as he leans over to kiss me briefly. "I love you."

He nods, before slipping out the door, leaving me to glide under the blankets and hope that tomorrow, our plan will work.

***

The smile I plaster onto my face as I enter the dining room in the morning makes my own stomach churn.

Isaiah sits in his usual place at the head of the table, engrossed in a newspaper, likely reading about the public's negative perception of him. At least that's the impression I get by the deep set brows and cold eyes. He doesn't so much as look up as I walk in.

"Good morning Isaiah, Zire," I say cheerfully, nodding at the second-in-command who watches me curiously with his dark eyes as I take a seat, immediately grabbing for a cup of coffee.

Zire and I haven't spoken much since I threatened to kill him. He clearly hasn't alerted Isaiah to that, since the Alpha doesn't seem suspicious of me yet. It's been puzzling me as to why Zire hasn't relayed our entire exchange to the Alpha, instead opting to watch me with that knowing look that tempts me to kick his ankle under the table.

"What made you so happy?" Zire questions, taking a bite of his buttered bread.

"I'm not sure. I feel like all this tension I've had is gone," I say with a shrug.

Isaiah finally looks up from his paper, dark hair over his eyes, as if he has yet to bother with it today. He wears his comfortable clothes, which shamefully, are my personal favourite. His black loose cotton pants and dark green shirt that matches almost the exact shade of his eyes are far too easy to look at him in.

"Good sleep?" he asks mindlessly, not quite getting my insinuation.

I slip some extra cream into my cup, pleased with the way the colours eddy together. "It could be that, or other things."

He raises a questioning brow. "Such as?"

"I don't kiss and tell," I smile, watching him over the rim of my cup.

Something flickers in his eyes. Surprise, mainly. And then something dark and icy laces with that surprise, making me shiver. Regardless, triumph blooms within me, knowing that I have him right where I want him. Now I just have to hope it's jealousy, and not anger at me for allegedly sleeping with one of his staff members.

"Ah, the guard," Zire exclaims, understanding. He sounds infinitely amused, jumping at any opportunity to mess with his friend.

Isaiah's jaw settles into a hard line. "Quiet, Zire."

Zire holds his hands up defensively, but the playfulness still looms in his expression. "Come on, you have to give us some details, Kenna."

"If your nights are so lonely that you need to occupy yourself with details of my bedroom life then maybe you should think about getting out some more," I respond, biting the edge of my lip before taking a long drink of my coffee, even though I'm not sure I need it, getting enough energy from screwing with Zire, who narrows his eyes on me.

"You work quickly. I'm surprised that guard moved quicker than Isaiah did," Zire laughs, only to receive a shooting glare from an irked looking Isaiah.

"Don't pretend you know my intentions," Isaiah responds, discarding his breakfast. "You haven't seduced anyone in months. I know you're holding out for someone."

I grin quietly behind my cup, both enjoying seeing the two bicker back and forth, not bothering with formalities when it's just them in the room and no one else. I haven't had that feeling in a friendship in a long time. Since Malin and I have started this rebellion together, we haven't been able to talk like friends without something else coming up as a result. And yet Isaiah and Zire are so comfortable around each other.

I realise pitifully that I envy that.

"Oh well, if it couldn't get worse for Isaiah, Elise is coming for a visit," Zire says with a shrug, cooling the mood immediately.

I stiffen. I was hoping to do more to learn about this Elise before meeting her, however it seems I will have no other choice but to face the woman who is going to come between me and my seduction of Isaiah.

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