My eyes went wide at Fang’s words. All this time, I had not thought about it once, and yet Fang had figured it out. “Why would I go to Greenland?” My voice was serious as I spoke about it. 

“I read memories, little one, not thoughts,” Fang reminded me while putting up a charming smile, “And somehow I can’t help but be constantly inside your head.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, “Stay. Out. Of. It Fang Warchild, I don’t like when people meddle with my plans.” Sure he had planned to follow me to Greenland, but there was something I had to do before going there. The last thing I wanted was Fang causing any problem with my plan or coming in between the case. It might be related to him as well, but I did not want distractions walking alongside me when I was on this case. 

“This case is equally important for me,” Fang took hold of my lower face and raised it, “I want this war between the villages to end as much as you. But let me tell you Cermesi clan is not easy to deal with, especially the princess.” 

I sighed and looked at the other side, “I know her very well and what wager she would want from me-“

“I am joining you and that’s the end of this topic,” Fang yanked my face so my eyes could meet his again and there was a rage that filled his eyes and was reciprocated with mine. Two Alphas cannot stand in the same room together and I got the meaning of it today as I looked into Fang’s dark eyes. 

There was so much I could say and so much to argue about, but I did not bother with Fang. I simply stepped out of his space and said, “I won’t be waiting for you then.”

“I’ll find you, little one, don’t worry,” Fang turned into his wolf in the middle of the square and my eyes went wide at his action. His golden eyes met mine for a quick second before Fang ran towards the forest. He was fast enough to disappear from in front of my eyes in just seconds. What kind of daring this man had to be shifting in the middle of the capital city. It wasn’t allowed to do so and if this was morning time, Fang would have definitely been captured. 

Capital city was closest to the castle and it had all the high end facilities. But residential area was missing in this city. The King was not comfortable having people live such high-end life, so he converted the entire residential area into visiting hotels with high price. 

There was something about the taxation which he wanted to take advantage of.

Suddenly, the street light flickered again and I jumped up, scared of the fact that I was standing alone in the middle of the capital city. I gulped and ran away from there after checking my belongings in my pocket. 

When I reached the forest, it was much darker than the capital city but somewhere I was used to this darkness because of the dungeons. 

The first thing I did was pulling out my mobile from my back pocket and searched for Channing’s contact number. My finger lingered on the green button as I remembered everything that had happened with him today. It was just tough to look at this guy in the same light as before. I sighed, knowing I needed his help right now and somewhere I could trust him in the crowd of people to be righteous. 

I pressed the green button and put the mobile by my ear. The ring went by three times before Channing picked up the call, “Selene, where have you been? The entire village is asleep and you are still not back!” 

“I…” Before I could any explanation, it made me question of how he knew I wasn’t home yet. “I am at my house-” 

“No, you aren’t,” Channing replied with a sigh, “I have been sitting in front of your house for two hours now, Selene, where are you?” There was concern laced in his voice but it did not make me feel less angry at him. 

“I am on my way. Can you wait an hour more?” I asked. 

It was rude of me to ask that from him but the situation was severe enough for me to ask him to wait there for me. I was in a hurry and it was good to know that Channing was awake. Going to the residential area this late in the night would only attract unnecessary attention. It was better that Channing was already by my house. 

Channing did not hesitate in his response, “I will wait, you come back safe. Border patrolling is under police now.” 

“Don’t worry about that, I will reach in some time then, bye.” I cut the call, not waiting for his reply. My house was located by the northern border and it was always guarded by the police force. It was only for two days that the patrolling squad had changed and police were on heavy duty with all the borders. 

I wonder how Channing was doing and there only one hope that he at least felt a little guilty about the way things had gone in the morning. 

Even though Channing knew I was here to end the feud between the villages, he had accepted what the elders had asked blindly. Coming to think about it now I felt like he was someone who followed the rules blindly because when I had mentioned about going to see the ocean he had given some similar response. 

[He shook his head, “Our kingdom has some set rules and if I don’t follow them, how would the people who I overlook follow them. It is better that you don’t think about it as well.”

“But it must be a nice place to visit,” I stated. 

Channing clicked his tongue irritated, and I did not understand was it because of my persistence of the question or his hangover. “Selene rules and rituals are there for a reason. They are supposed to be followed or people like John Walter will roam around Adalolpha.” He rendered me speechless at this point, and I silently finished my coffee. I would love to see the ocean one day, but Channing was right with his words.]

Coming to think about those words now, I could figure out Channing was someone who followed the order, while Fang was someone who made his own set of rules. 

Within the next hour, I had reached my house and today was the first time I had accidentally caught a glimpse of the spies who were sent after me. 

One of them was fast asleep on the tree and another hid himself quickly behind the thicket when I looked his way. So there were two spies on the lookout for me. I should not just assume that number because I managed to catch two of them. I pretended as if I had not seen them and carefully avoided the patrolling wolf entering my house from the back door which led through my kitchen. Locking the door behind me, I opened a drawer to place the dagger which had attacked me at the market inside before sliding it shut. 

Letting Channing in on my actual plan was definitely not my intention right now. I did not want anyone following me, neither Channing nor Fang, after receiving the news from Channing. 

I walked to the main door before opening it and Channing was sitting there, leaning against the wooden pole with his eyes closed. 

“Channing,” I whispered loudly, and he quickly turned his head to look at me. 

Channing got up from his place and did not speak anything till he stepped inside my house and I had locked the main door secure. “Selene, where were you this late in the night?” His worry was evident even in the darkness of the room but I did not respond to it as I used to do before. 

The man standing in front of me was different today and so would I be for him, “I was at the court.”

“The court closed hours ago-“

“I was with Fang,” my words came out as cold as I could offer Channing. Somewhere I still looked at this childish person in front of me with trust but I had better things to do and I had to finish them fast before the public rages more. “Didn’t you send Fang to me? You should know better.”

I turned around to walk to my bedroom when Channing caught hold of my hand and I turned to look at him. 

The lights were off but our faces were visible to each other. “Selene,” Channing’s words sounded guilty for a moment and it made me exhale loudly as I turned to look at him, “I just thought it would be better if Fang was there with you.” 

“Thank you for taking decisions for me,” I said in a sarcastic tone, and Channing pursed his lips before letting go of my hand. 

There was not much to be exchanged between us now and I walked to the switch to turn it on. When I saw Channing’s face in the light, I could see the guilt that marred his face. I bit my lower lip and pulled out the xerox which I had brought from the court. My hand extended to him and I passed him the papers, “Here, you can put up Jack for trials tomorrow.” 

Channing looked at the papers and then at me, “What about you?” 

My eyes shifted from his hands to his face, “I have some work to do. I hope it would be fine if I solve this case my way.. I have a feeling the iron is going to get hot and there is no better time to strike than when that time arrives.”