Hailey stood there, analyzing Bane’s expression while I raised my eyebrows in a sudden turn of events. Then my expressions turned into a slow-growing smile on my face as I turned to Fang and I bursted into laughter. 

Fang looked at me with an irritated crinkle in his brows. He walked to separate Hailey and Bane before he turned to the Beta of Waterwoods. Fang rested his hand with a threatening grip on Bane’s shoulder, “Do you feel it too?” It was fun watching Fang falter like this. It was funnier knowing that Hailey was once with Fang, an Alpha and his own Omega got the cake while Fang only had the cherry. 

“You never invited Hailey to Waterwoods?” I asked, still in the middle of my laughter. 

Fang clicked his tongue, passing me an angry glare, “Of course not. Why would I risk bringing an assassin without a lease on her own self on my land?” He stretched his hand, grabbing my cheek in one swift motion, making my lips twist unnaturally, “stop it, this is something more serious.” I cleared my throat as I nodded with the limited motion of my neck. Fang let go of me and then went back to Bane. 

I licked my lips, trying not to smile, and thought as loud as I could ‘Serves you right for sleeping with others.’

The anger on Fang’s face simmered just for a moment when I saw the devil in his eyes. I did not want to try my luck with him trying to counter what I had just thought and he had read. My palms raised in surrender with a sheepish smile, “Fine, I will not disturb your embarrassing moment anymore.” 

“Good,” Fang growled in the back of his throat. 

Hailey finally interrupted as she pushed Fang from between her and Bane, “hey, even I need answers.” 

Fang gave her a look before brushing her hand away from over his shoulder and then back at Bane. To be honest, I pitied Bane right now, on cornered he was. Even so, he was no child to deserve my pity. At least not until it was confirmed that he was indeed Hailey’s soulmate. Then I would pity him from the depth of my heart. 

“Maybe,” Bane replied and I was the one who reacted the loudest,

“You both need to stop with those probabilities.” 

Fang immediately backed me up, “Yes, if you can’t be sure of your next answer, then this is a no.” I had reacted out of curiosity and frustration, but Fang was unusually worked up about this. I could not decide whether it was bad for his selfish interest or something was really wrong. 

“Okay, I go first,” Hailey was quick with her actions. 

She walked ahead and stared at Bane with an intense gaze. If anything, she looked like she was after his blood and it was giving me chills. I took a step forward to have a better look at what she was doing. She was finding answers in his eyes and suddenly she leaned ahead to sniff at Bane’s collarbone, her nose traveling up as her eyes shut in concentration. Fang placed his palm on her forehead and pushed her back in a jerk, “I can tell Selene’s scent apart from five times that distance.” He pointed at where she had staggered back. 

My jaw dropped in shock at the way Fang handled Hailey and she rather took it in a friendly way with a shrug. 

It really made me feel out of them even though I was an Alpha. Where did this fear in me even come from? I was more worried if a fight broke out because of Fang’s impulse, but Fang was standing strong, ready to start a fight if needed, and tear down the restaurant. 

Even Bane felt like he was one of them. 

This was a little frustrating as I took a step back slowly. There was so much I needed to work on because I still wasn’t able to distinguish between whether the feeling I had was fear or my excited nerves. Before I took another step backward, Fang grabbed my wrist as if he had his attention on me as well. Without looking my way, he pulled me close to him, bringing me almost to the center of the event with his arm circled around me. He wasn’t ready to handle that change I was going through, but his actions were assuring that he did not forget about me. 

There was a sense of courage that bubbled inside me and I let my self-esteem latch onto it. 

I turned to Bane and found my place in the conversation, “Do you smell any distinguished scent?” 

Bane looked at me with his sharp and emotionless eyes, “yes, fresh blood and the wolfbane liquor.” My eyelids drooped with a ‘seriously’ expression. Here Hailey was worried it would be a saint, while Bane’s favorite smell was that of fresh blood. It would be a lie if I said Bane did not give a killer’s vibe but he was at least a little considerate, right?

Fang leaned over my shoulder as he grabbed my attention with his whisper, “Remember the wolfbane liquor and the field of fireflies. You ane me-” 

“Ahhhahaha,” I distracted him from the memories of my first kiss. The kiss, which Fang stole from me. I turned to Bane, “so you do smell your soulmate? Why are you not sure if she is the one?” 

Bane glanced my way and then at Fang. I turned to see Fang was ready to rip Bane’s head off if that was true. 

“Pfft,” Hailey ridiculed, “he is so obedient. I mean, I like obedient, but not to someone else.” I clicked my tongue to stop her from interrupting when there was definitely something else going on here. But Hailey raised her hand to stop me from talking and rested her other hand on her hip as she shifted her weight on that side, “Look, Selene, it is their family matter and Fang doesn’t really want to let go of his brother so easily. Plus, Fang knows I will eat up Bane all raw.” A wink followed from her. 

I cleared my throat, but Fang was focused on his underlying threat that was directed towards Bane and now shifted to Hailey, “Bane is not your soulmate.” 

Hailey rolled her eyes, “Oh please, take that Alpha dominance somewhere it would actually work.” 

Fang was ready to pounce when I pressed my palm against his chest, “Hey wait, wait.” He looked at me, his eyes going softer. I turned to Hailey to hold her back, as she was ready to throw a fist as well. “Why don’t we take it where there are less number of people,” I signed to the restaurant where everyone’s eyes were fixated our way. 

Hailey stared at Fang upholding the challenge. Her eyes shifted to look at me, “Fine.” 

She grabbed Bane by the collar of his shirt and dragged him behind her. Fang was about to reach out for Bane when I held his wrist and for once my resolve made me strong enough to stop him, “Can we have a little chat.” 

“Now is not the time,” Fang pushed past me but I grabbed his black sweatshirt from behind to stop him. 

I walked to stand beside him and did not waste time trying to convince him to give me his time. I could take it if I wanted. “What are you doing? Aren’t you always soulmates are meant to be together and stuff?” 

“You don’t understand, Selene,” he exhaled with frustration. 

“Then explain,” I asked. 

He looked at me and this time he was shocked and searching for something in my eyes. I gulped, feeling the weight of his gaze and looked away. Fang cleared his throat as he replied, “Bane is my stepbrother.” I immediately followed up with a shocked expression but did not say anything so he could continue with the main issue here. “Hailey’s family is matriarchal, that means Bane would have to marry and come here to fulfill a woman’s duty.” 

“What do you mean, a woman’s duty?” I asked, crossing my arms with anger simmering.

Fang clicked his tongue, “isn’t going to the woman’s home shameful enough?”

“No,” I yelled. 

“Look that is not where it ends,” he gritted his teeth, “Hailey will descend as the Cermesi ruler when she is married. Bane will not be even allowed to take part in important matters. His life will be limited to serving guests, handling clan politics, taking care of children, and serving the ruler as and when needed.” 

That sounded a little too much, “I don’t think Hailey’s father does that, isn’t he the current ruler, an Alpha?” 

Fang snickered, “The Cermesi clan is renowned for always producing a female Alpha. How do you think the female dominance settled?” 

“Sounds like ladies were out there to give back to what the men used to do in old times,” I replied with a shrug. It must have been a solid slap on the previous ruling families, where there used to be mistresses of the werewolf kings and Alphas despite their mate. Nevertheless, this was not fair for Bane on today’s date. I never talked to him, but he seemed like an excellent Beta. “So you are biased to this fate of his because he is your brother?” 

“Yes,” Fang did not hesitate, “whatever is mine always gets the best, I make sure of it. I am enough possessive to care!” 

I took a sharp breath, understanding him now, “Okay let’s go.” 

I grabbed his wrist unconsciously and dragged him to the other side, where Hailey and Bane were waiting in the lobby. Hailey looked at us and chimed, “It is clear because of this clear environment.” She looked around the large and empty lobby as she walked to stand behind Bane and circle her hands around him. He did not even flinch at her touch and kept quiet as usual.. Hailey grinned wide, “We are soulmates and I declare the Cermesi marriage in the next 3 days.”