KAIA'S POV
When I step back into the hallway, my father jumps up from his chair with that nervous energy he gets around important people.
"There you are, sunshine!" he says, smoothing down his best shirt. "Ready to meet the Alpha?"
I nod, not trusting my voice. My lips still tingle from Ronan's kiss, and I can smell his scent all over my skin. I need to focus. I need to remember why I'm here.
Revenge. Information.
The dining room is enormous, with a table that could seat twenty people easily. But today it's set for just four. At the head sits an older man with graying hair and sharp eyes that look exactly like Ronan's.
Alpha Raven Duskmore.
My hands clench into fists at my sides, but I force a polite smile onto my face.
"Alpha Raven," I say with a respectful bow. "Thank you for inviting us to your home."
He stands and extends his hand. "The pleasure is mine, Miss Grimm. Please, sit. Make yourself comfortable."
His hand is warm and firm when I shake it. Normal. Human. Not the claws of a monster like I'd imagined.
This is going to be harder than I thought.
"Your home is beautiful," I say as we take our seats. Me across from Ronan, my father beside me, the old Alpha at the head.
"Thank you, dear," Alpha Raven says. "It's been in our family for generations. Each Alpha adds their own touch."
"What did you add?" I ask, genuinely curious despite myself.
He chuckles. "The library. I'm afraid I'm a bit of a bookworm. My late wife used to say I cared more about my books than my pack."
The mention of his wife makes something twist in my chest. He lost someone too. Just like me.
No. I can't think like that. He's the enemy.
"Speaking of family," Alpha Raven says, turning to my father. "How is your lovely daughter settling in? It must be difficult, being so far from your old territory."
"We manage," Papa says carefully. "Kaia has been my strength through everything."
"She's certainly grown into a beautiful young woman," Ronan says, and his voice makes heat pool in my belly despite my best efforts to ignore it.
I keep my eyes on my plate. "Thank you."
"Tell me, Kaia," Alpha Raven continues. "What do you like to do? Any hobbies?"
This is my chance. Time to play the part of the sweet, innocent girl who just wants to fit in.
"I like to read," I say, looking up with what I hope is a shy smile. "And I enjoy walks in nature. There's something peaceful about being outdoors."
"I knew I liked you, Kaia," Alpha Raven laughs. "You must visit our library sometime. I think you'd enjoy it."
"I'd love that," I say, and I actually mean it. Information is power, and their library might hold exactly what I need.
"What about before?" Ronan asks suddenly. "What was your life like in your old territory?"
My father's fork pauses halfway to his mouth. This is dangerous ground.
"It was different," I say carefully. "Smaller. Quieter."
"You lost family there, didn't you?" Alpha Raven says gently. "Your father mentioned your mother and sister passed away."
My heart stops beating for exactly three seconds. Here it is. The opening I need.
"Yes," I whisper, letting real pain show in my voice. "Five years ago. It was... sudden."
"I'm so sorry for your loss," Alpha Raven says, and he sounds genuinely sad. "Losing family is never easy. Was it illness?"
I glance at my father, who's staring at his plate like it holds the secrets of the universe.
"An accident," Papa says quietly. "We don't really like to talk about it."
"Of course," Alpha Raven says. "Forgive me for prying."
But I need him to keep prying. I need to know what he knows, what his family knows about that night.
"It's okay," I say softly. "They were attacked. By rogues, we think. They never caught who did it."
Ronan's head snaps up. "Attacked?"
"Kelly was just fourteen," I continue, watching both their faces carefully. "She was walking home alone when it happened. By the time we found her, it was too late."
"That's terrible," Alpha Raven says, and his shock looks genuine. "Were there any leads? Any idea who might have been responsible?"
I shake my head, but inside I'm screaming. Ask more questions. Tell me what you know.
"The investigation went nowhere," Papa says. "We decided it was better to start fresh somewhere new."
"Understandable," Ronan says quietly. "I can't imagine what that must have been like."
The conversation shifts to lighter topics after that. Pack politics. Weather. Local gossip. But I barely listen. I'm too busy studying their faces, looking for any sign of guilt or recognition.
Alpha Raven seems genuinely kind. Interested in my father's work, complimentary about my manners. Nothing like the monster I'd built up in my head.
And Ronan... Every time I look at him, I remember the feel of his lips on mine. The way his hands felt on my waist. The heat in his eyes when he looked at me.
This is bad. So incredibly bad.
I'm supposed to hate him. I'm supposed to be using his attraction to get information. But instead, I'm the one being affected. Every casual comment, every smile, every accidental brush of his fingers when he passes me something makes my pulse race.
"Well," Alpha Raven says finally, pushing back from the table. "This has been lovely, but I'm sure you both have things to do."
"Thank you so much for your hospitality," Papa says, standing quickly. "This has been an honor."
"The honor was ours," Alpha Raven replies. "I hope this is the first of many visits."
As we walk toward the front door, I feel Ronan fall into step behind us. My skin prickles with awareness of his presence.
"Let me see you out," he says to my father. "It's the least I can do."
Outside, the afternoon air feels cool against my flushed skin. Papa is already walking toward the path home, chattering about what a successful visit it was.
That's when Ronan's hand closes around my wrist.
"Kaia," he says quietly, pulling me back.
I turn to face him, my heart hammering. "What?"
He glances toward my father, then steps closer so only I can hear.
"Meet me by the river side," he whispers. "Same time we met yesterday. Will you come?"
The request hits me like a physical blow. He wants to see me again. This is exactly what I need. A chance to get closer to him, to learn his secrets, to find out what he knows about Kelly's death.
But looking into his dark eyes, seeing the hope and desire written there, all I can think about is how his kiss made me forget everything else in the world.
How can I use him when I'm the one being affected?
"Will you come?" he asks again, his thumb stroking across my pulse point.
I stare at him for a long moment, war raging inside my chest. Logic says yes. Strategy says yes. Revenge says yes.
But my heart... my heart is terrified of what will happen if I'm alone with him again.
"No," I blurt out.
His face falls. "No?"
"I can't," I whisper, pulling my hand free.