My eyes flew wide open at hearing Fang’s voice and there were a series of internal curses I bestowed upon myself. “I-I will call you later. I am busy right now,” I just cut the call without any second thought or hearing out what Fang had to say. Maybe he had an emergency on his side, but all I wanted was to avoid him at all cost. 

I turned my mobile on silent and Fang called me back. I just slipped the device into my pocket, ignoring his call and walked to where the prison supervisor’s cabin was located. 

Channing and Mr Brayden were having some serious conversation when their heads turned towards me. “Alright then, thank you for your help. I will come by for a chat tomorrow,” Channing extended his arm ahead to thank the prison supervisor and it only had me more suspicious. He had not waited for their topic to end rather he kept it for tomorrow when I won’t be here in the village. 

I walked ahead to them and with a casual smile asked Mr Brayden, “I hope I did not disturb you both.” 

The prison supervisor immediately shook his head, “No we were just talking about the eight traitors who were locked up here-“

“It was something about their release date,” Channing interrupted, as if he did not want the prison supervisor to continue on what he was about to say. There was definitely something that Channing was planning and did not want me involved in it. I had no intentions to meddle with his private conversation but if this had anything to do with the war, I would do anything to go against Channing. For him, I was a mere Beta of the pack, but I was born an Alpha princess of this kingdom, even though I was forced not to act like one. 

I forced a smile on my face, “I guess you are done talking. We should leave fast then.” Channing nodded his head and I took a silent breath before turning to Mr Brayden, “Thank you so much for your help and apologies for making you help us this late in the night.” 

“Anything for you, Selene,” Mr Brayden flashed a wide grin at me and it made me feel giddy. 

After all, this man was literally just being this nice to me because I was Suzan’s best friend, or probably the only friend. As a parent, he must surely cherish Suzan to treat me so well on the account of his daughter. I gave him a final smile before I turned to leave the cabin, along with Channing, who was already halfway through the door. It all started again. Channing will now ignore me and I had to prevent that because I needed his help with my mission and, the biggest of all, he was one of the people I trusted the most. 

“Channing,” I called out to him when Hailey entered with two guards following her close. I had cleared enough with Channing, yet I felt like his heart needed more explanation. 

Sadly, I could not talk to him in front of Hailey. I doubted Hailey would make a scene out of it, but that girl was off-limit for my personal matters. 

Channing turned to me awkwardly, waiting for me to finish my sentence as I had called him. My eyes, though, were fixed on Hailey, who looked utterly irritated with the silver collar around her neck. I knew she was going to request for me to remove it one or the other way, but that one thing was my safety from her wolf form. She was a cold-blooded assassin, to begin with, so I had to be extra cautious. If her sister Zelda could manage to kill nearly half of the pack in a few hours, then I did not want to imagine what capabilities the Cermesi heir had. 

Hailey came to stand in between me and Channing. On Channing’s signal, the guards who had brought Hailey here went back to where their duty was. 

She moved her neck restrictedly, “I hope you have a key to this thing. I am not sleeping with this piece of silver on me.” 

“I don’t have the key and I know you are enough capable to take care of yourself even without turning into your wolf,” I replied in a nonchalant tone before turning to Channing. He was eyeing Hailey, and it wouldn’t be tough to guess that his guard was on. “Channing,” I called out to him and he took more than a second to reply to me with a hum before turning to me, “Please try to not create any situation where the war is instigated in peoples mind here.” 

Channing creased his brows at me as if I was accusing him of starting the war, “Why would I do that? I am the Alpha of this village, I look after my people’s peace.” 

“Yes,” I nodded, knowing that he did not understand a bit of what I meant, “What I wanted to say was though elders have asked you to prepare for the future it would be best if the members are not made aware of it.” That was the most important thing to keep the members vary of the real intention when their blood was already boiling from the rage of the recent attack. 

Channing did not miss a second to answer, “I understand Selene, I will take care of things here till you sort out this case.” 

This was the Channing I knew, the one who looked after things carefully and handled them delicately. The one who always assured me in my panicked times and the one whose words I could trust just because of the way he lightly blinked in assurance. The Channing, who accepted the elder’s orders to prepare for war and the one who did not stand by me in front of the newsletter reporters, was a completely different person. 

It made me smile to at least get to see him like this before I went to Greenland, where my journey was surely a dangerous mystery. “Also-“

Before I could say the most important thing which he had to do to not instigate any war, Channing’s mobile rang. “Just a minute,” Channing pulled out his mobile and immediately picked it up, “Hello…” I did not know who it was when Channing looked at me answered with a heavy heart, “Yeah she is right here.” 

The pain in his eyes was evident and my goodness, it did not take me a second to know who it was on the call. 

I frantically waved a no while, pointing at myself. I want to let Channing know that all he had to say was I wasn’t here but that dumb wolf only creased his brows and signalled me with ‘what?’ Hailey, who was watching all the drama, chuckled and leaned closer to me, “should I talk to him for you?” 

That would be the worst-case scenario but me talking to Fang would be worse than the worst. I unconsciously nodded my head and snatched the mobile from Channing’s hand to hand it to Hailey. 

“Hey!” Channing exclaimed but I just grabbed his arm and pulled him to the other side, away from Hailey’s earshot and possibly so my voice did not leak to Fang on the cellphone. “What is wrong with you?” Channing was a little confused with the mess this situation was becoming. 

“Okay hear me out,” I said. 

Channing folded his hands, “yeah I am listening, not like you would give me a choice to not listen.” 

My lips pursed, “when have I ever forced you to listen to me?” 

“Now,” Channing was blunt with his answer and it just made me roll my eyes. 

“Channing,” I loudly whispered his name, “look, you cannot meet Fang anytime soon, not until this case is settled.” 

“Why?” 

“Because you know why,” I said in an exaggerated way. He very well knew why but all his Alpha ego was pouring out right now. 

Channing turned to look at Hailey, who had a faint smile on her face while she talked on the call and then he looked back at me. “Are you afraid of Fang?” Channing asked unexpectedly and I was speechless with that question. I wanted to reply immediately but it was like my words were stuck in my mouth. “Selene,” Channing stepped closer to me, raising his hand near my cheek.

I immediately retracted from his touch, “don’t.” My voice was gentle and pleading. I cannot have Hailey watch this and dictate it out to Fang. 

Channing did not force himself onto me and that was one thing that I really appreciated about him. “I am telling you, Selene, you don’t have to force yourself to be with Fang just because he is your soulmate,” Channing started with those same words which he had said to me when he had kissed me a while back, “I can take better care of you.” 

I did not want to hurt Channing in any way, not at least in the way I was about to. I never thought I would lie to him but I had to keep Channing from thinking he had a chance with me. 

“Channing I… I am happy with Fang,” the words left my mouth like a painful arrow shot to Channing’s chest. 

“You are lying,” Channing said in a low voice, “I can hear your heartbeat, you are lying.” 

I shut my eyes to calm myself. It was not going to help my heartbeat but at least for me believe at least a little of what I was saying to Channing, “Channing my loyalty lies with someone else and so will my heart.” It wasn’t false, I was betrothed after all. I couldn’t just dump the feelings which Channing had for me. All I could do was help him get over me. I just hoped this was enough for now. “So just don’t meet Fang anytime soon. He cannot find out what happened between us today.” 

“I don’t care, Selene,” Channing just acted like a little child right now. 

I raised my hand to stop him from speaking any further, “You should, Channing, because I care. I don’t want things to fall out between you and Fang when I am not here to sort anything out. Let’s just maintain the peace for the little time that I am here.” 

Channing did not understand what I meant by my last statement but he wasn’t arguing anymore and that was enough. 

When I turned to look at Hailey, she was standing right beside me and it made me jump up in my place. How did she manage to come close this fast and without even making any sound! 

She sheepishly handed the mobile back to Channing and I was glad that Fang was not on the call anymore. I wonder how Hailey managed that obnoxious man. 

“Well your second boyfriend is angry at you now,” Hailey said and I knew how she managed to dodge Fang off. 

She threw me under the cart!