Chapter 7

The silence was getting slightly awkward and I did not like it.  “Is it me, brother, or are you hiding something?” I looked at them impatiently but I knew that the weak link was not Kieran, it was Theo. A grin spread over my face as I looked at the Beta and he swallowed the lump in his throat. It was even cute! He knew me too well.   “So,” I stretched my legs, “You knew Hunter back at school, right?”   “N-not really,” he mumbled, “He was older than us when all that happened…”   “When what happened?” I fluttered my eyelashes at him and moved closer to him in the back seat since he was stupid enough to take that with me. I caught a glimpse of my brother’s eyes in the mirror and smirked, bringing all my attention back to Theo.   “The demon attack and…”   “Theodor!” Kieran growled angrily, making his friend jump in his place slightly. I rolled my eyes and backed off. There were other ways to find out what I wanted.    “So, Sienna,” my brother decided to divert my attention and I already knew his petty trick, “What exactly are you going to do about the Coven and Kahlan?”   If something could erase the smile off my face – that was that. The Coven and my ex-boyfriend were the last things I wanted to think about! Just why did he have to bring that up of all the things in the world.   “I’ll deal with both,” I snorted, compensating my annoyance with overconfidence, “Just need to figure out what was that with my assassination yesterday.”   “I’ll take care of that, Kitten,” Kieran winked at me, “After all if they were rogues, it’s my responsibility.”   “All three may be connected,” I sighed, “After all, both Kahlan and Harmony betrayed me so sneakily and so easily. Now I can’t be sure of anything. But before that, I will need a favour from you.”   “If that’s about Hunter…”   “My!” I giggled, “You sure talk about him a lot, brother!”   He growled again.   “But no, it’s not about him at all,” I shifted closer to the driver’s seat, “I need to speak to the other ones who betrayed me and voted against me, “So, I want to ask you for two extra birthday party invites. It will be the best place to confront them, especially after they had a drink or two. Will you be so kind?”   “Sure, whatever!” Kieran shrugged, “Theo, give those to her. If you need anything else, Kitten, let me know.”   “Oh, I will!” I sneered and looked at the Beta next to me, who was really struggling at the moment. He knew very well, that one of the two people I was talking about already was invited to Kieran’s birthday. And that I just received one extra precious piece of paper.    He almost opened his mouth to speak when I leaned closer to him, sliding my hand over his firm chest, “I appreciate all your help, Theo.”   It was a low trick, I know.   But… The two of them left me no choice. I knew that Theo liked me for a while already. But I also knew that he was too conflicted with his feelings since I was his best friend’s and most importantly Alpha’s little sister. And also I wasn’t his mate. So, there was no point to act on his feelings.   And yes, I felt guilty to use them from time to time. But, hey, I was a witch and this was in my blood. Uncle Connor’s being my mentor also did not help, he was the most scheming warlock I ever met.   Although, Kahlan surprised me recently…   We came back home quickly and I went straight to my room. I needed some quiet time after everything. And a proper bath.   I didn’t even get down to dinner. And my family respected me enough, not bothering me or making me join them.   In the morning, when I opened my curtains and the sun rays of the new day kissed my face, I knew exactly what I was going to do. Two unsigned invites were already on my desk and I filled them both at once, sending the first one to Aaron Riverford. He was the one who surprised me the most after Kahlan. Siding with my ex was strange for many reasons. One of them was that Aaron never liked Kahlan in the first place. So, what could he possibly get out of betraying me like that?   I put his invitation in the envelope and sealed it. There was no way anyone would decline an invitation from the new Alpha King. Kieran assumed the position not so long ago since my father decided to retire. And everybody wanted to get into his good graces. My brother had a kind heart, of course, but he was not looking to be everyone’s best buddy. Opportunities like this were rare.   I looked at the other invitation in my hands and contemplated just a few minutes before writing down the name. And when it was done, I went to my wardrobe room and chose my most favourite pair of black jeans and an oversized sleeveless white blouse with a v-neck and a long tie at the front. Then I brushed my hair to one side and added a few black crystal pins, which were actually protective artefacts that my aunt Cassidy made for me. And topping all of that off with my favourite black diamond S-earring, which was my signature piece of jewellery. I always wore that or my matching S-choker necklace. Yesterday, I left both at home since Harmony stated they were too much… And look what happened?!   I check myself in the mirror a few times and bit my lip when I realised that I already spent too much time on all of this…   So, grabbing my leather jacket and the two other things I needed, I went to my car and drove right to the place where Kieran picked me up the other day. There I found a safe place to park off the road and off I went in the search of the wooden cottage.   In the middle of the way, I felt stupid. Why couldn’t I let it go? Why did I even care what happened to that guy? It wasn’t like we were best of friends back in the day. I remember how the 9-1o year old me was fascinated with the werewolf and that he was always nice to me. And I remember how once I heard his father talking to mine about our possible marriage. And how my heart fluttered back then…    Not. The. Point.   The point was how much he changed from the golden boy that everybody loved to this… dark stranger covered in tattoos with that dangerous sexy aura around him. What was up with all that? And where did he got all those tattoos when he lived in the woods.   And again, why would someone like him even live in the woods?    My curious brain would never rest until I knew…   I was officially lost because by now I was supposed to be next to his house already, yet all that was surrounding me were bushes and trees.   I sensed some movement behind my back and prepared to strike whatever was there. But before I even had a chance, I was pushed against a huge oak tree and found myself looking into a pair of black as night eyes.   Hunter was towering over me and breathing heavily. And I squeaked since his hand was on my neck, squeezing it but not actually hurting.   Only now I noticed that he was topless, wearing just black jogging pants and nothing else.    “H-hi!” I forced an awkward smile onto my face and his eyes immediately returned to normal, lips parting in shock as he recognized me.   “What are you doing here again?” he asked, slightly startled.   “I… brought your jacket,” I lifted up my hand with the garment he lent to me the other day. Yes, I brought it with me, since I needed a very good excuse to see him. And that seemed like it.   “Seriously?” he let go of me and threw it out of my grasp.    Was it me or did the ink of his tattoo just move a little? As if it wanted to touch me?    No, that definitely couldn’t be it. I was hallucinating from my sudden contact with the tree probably…   “Thanks,” he said, turning away from me and started to walk in the opposite direction. Was he for real?!   “Is this all that you want to say after all those years, Hunter?” I smirked at his back and that made him stop. Slowly, very slowly, he turned back to look at me.   But then a smirk of his own curled onto his lips, “Maybe you are the one who wants to say something, Sienna?”