Fang looked through the piece of paper which Hailey slid towards him. His concentration was fixed on understanding what the words and symbols written on it meant. Meanwhile, Hailey kept staring at me, squinting her eyes, and occasionally glancing between me and Fang. I refused to stare at Fang while he was deciphering the note, but it was tough to look at Hailey. 

Hailey slowly shifted in her seat, leaning forward to call my attention. It was tough to ignore her, but it was easier than confronting the truth with her. 

“Psst,” Hailey called as I fixed my attention on the piece of paper Fang was reading. I could not even see what was written on it with the way Fang held the paper halfway in the air. “Psst, Psst…” Hailey tried again while my mind went through endless possibilities for what she wanted to ask. I was not getting out of this safe and at the very least, I did not want Hailey to be a part and parcel of any more of my secrets. I saw her shuffle in her seat in the corner of my eyesight and immediately got up from my seat. 

All the eyes in the room turned to me for suddenly springing up. “Everything alright?” Fang asked me, a faint smirk playing on his lips. 

My brain! It suddenly stopped working. “Yeah,” I replied in almost a whisper, “I’m great.” 

Fang kept staring at me, as I did not move from my place. I wanted to leave this place, but my brain refused to work up a reason. My body kept shifting to decide what to do next as I saw Hailey and that girl knew very well that I was trying to avoid her. Hailey’s smile said that clearly. Fang followed my gaze to Hailey and back to me, “What are doing standing like that, Selene?”

I raised my eyebrows at him and then looked at myself, “Me? Oh… I was… like standing… to see… if my legs had gone numb from the cold.” 

It was quite evident from Fang’s face that he was holding back a smile. I wasn’t exactly flustered because I could not conjure up an answer but also the fact that Fang was sitting here. If I were to be attacked by both Hailey and Fang at the same time with their cunning brains, I was afraid I would not make it out in time. 

“The thermostat is on here. I thought you wanted to go somewhere,” Fang casually replied. 

“Yeah,” I smiled awkwardly, “That sounds more like a reason.” What was I doing! This was just stupid. I needed to leave this room. It was embarrassing enough. Please, Goddess Luna, help me out. Right at that instance, my mobile rang, “Oh!” I beamed up, “I need to take this call. It is very important.” 

“You did not even see who it was from,” Hailey creased her brows. 

“I just know Hailey,” I forced my words, “I will go answer it while you two can relieve your past days.” 

“If you don’t mind,” Hailey responded as she shifted towards Fang. He did not do any visible effort to push her away. Somewhere in the depth of my heart, I wanted to strangle her for her actions. However, I left the VIP room, rushing out. They had a thing going on a few years ago and I wouldn’t be surprised if they rekindled the flames. The thought did feel off for me but who was I to say on their personal choices? 

I walked a few steps away from the door and pulled out my mobile from my pocket. The name Channing flashed on the screen and it took a good second before I pressed the green button.

“Hello, Selene,” Channing sounded excited but on my end, the tension was still tight for what had happened. 

I took my time before clearing my throat and answering, “Yes, Alpha.”

My refusal to even mention his name along with the honorific was enough to bring his high horses down, “I hope you are fine.” 

“Absolutely,” I was quick and sharp with my replies, “You had any job for me?” 

There was a momentary pause. A heavy one. Channing did not know how to respond and what to say next. It was pretty clear that he had called out for no real reason. I held back from promoting anything and let him speak, which took a good half-minute, “I just wanted to know how you were.” 

Not fine at all. Especially after how Fang had treated me for something that Channing had done, it was not fair for me. “The mission is on track-” 

“Selene,” Channing stopped me immediately, “You know I am not asking about the mission.” 

“I know.” 

There was silence yet again. It was hard for him to confront when the other person did not evidently put the effort from their end. It had always been a series of efforts on the others’ end when it came to understanding the extremities of Channing. I for sure would not take my chances there anymore. It was good enough that I managed it last night in the prison. 

“Selene,” Channing tried to make me come around as usual but he did not get any reply from my end. He sighed on the other end of the line, “I- I am sorry for doing it without asking-” 

“It wouldn’t have been a good idea even if you had asked,” I stung. 

“Look Selene, I get it, whatever I did was a bad idea but I don’t regret it,” Channing spoke honestly and it was enough to render me speechless. I gulped before exhaling. “Selene,” Channing continued, “I know how things are not well between you and Fang. When I kissed you, I knew what I was doing. No one is forcing you to choose a partner because of the soulmate bond-” 

“Just because your soulmate turned out bad doesn’t mean everyone has it that way,” I hissed, rubbing salt on his wounds

“Tell me you are ready to accept Fang for his everything,” Channing almost yelled his words, “Can you do that?” There was a heavy silence from my end. Even though I had been trying to dodge Channing with an excuse called Fang, this was where Channing had me. There was no way for me to assure him that, not even a way to assure myself that. My silence was enough answer, “You see, Selene, I have nothing against Fang. I just know he is not your type and I know very well how it feels when our soulmate isn’t exactly built up to our expectations.” 

“Wasn’t Fang like a brother to you?” I whispered. 

This time, there was no answer from his end. That was a heavy guilt are for Channing and I was well aware of it. I did not want to play this game with either one of them. I was betrothed and it was some duty I had to fulfil. If I listen to my heart and let it take control was something I couldn’t risk even if that is all I wanted. 

“I will keep you updated about the mission. I should go back to Hailey now,” I said. 

Channing did not respond with anything. I waited for a few seconds before I was about to cut the call when he finally called out to me, “Selene… I- stay safe. I will wait for your safe return.” 

I clenched my jaw before cutting the call. It was frustrating how much I actually wanted a man like Channing in the beginning, but where did things change? 

As I walked across the balcony which overlooked the bottom floor of the tavern, I saw the friends and the couples having a time of their life. No rules, no duties, no restrictions. It would be lovely to live that life once. Listen to my heart… maybe give Fang a good chance. It was no use denying my heart was warming up for him and controlling my attraction to him was becoming difficult. I saw a few people entering the tavern following a familiar figure and my thoughts distracted for a bit. 

My thoughts were taking me nowhere. I went to the open the door of the room we were seated in. 

Before I could open the door, it crossed my mind that Fang and Hailey might be doing something inside. After all, I was the one who suggested it in the first place. Who was I to regret? 

“But don’t you think she is quite odd for a soulmate?” I heard Hailey’s voice from inside, “I mean, I just have to give her a push in the right direction.” 

It was wrong to be eavesdropping, but it seemed like I was the topic of discussion. I heard Fang snicker, “Let her come around on her own. It took a long time for her to come here with accepting me. It is better I do what is needed for my personal relations.”

“I can make it easier,” Hailey replied. 

“No need,” Fang said, “If I wanted things to be easy, do you think I don’t have ways to do that? Selene finds it very tough to accept herself. She will one day. I will wait for her.” 

“Never saw you this patient,” Hailey giggled, “I guess soulmates have their own ways.” 

I took a deep breath as I walked away from the door. 

This was something I was never expecting from Fang. It was just making things difficult for me. My heart skipped yet another beat and I closed my eyes to clear up my mind. 

“There she is!” I heard a girl’s voice.

I turned to my right where the girl who I and Hailey had done a number on stood with a group of men behind her. The very people who I had seen entering a while back. Their faces now covered and traditional daggers in their hand. 

Great, another problem!