I felt my grin turn a little predatory. “That’s right, you didn’t graduate yet.” She growled again, but I shrugged. “I get it, hard course and all.” I tilted my head. “But why are you here?” She snapped her teeth at me and I felt my eyes flash. “I might not come here anymore, but I will give you a bit of grace and tell you to remember who you’re snapping at.”
She seemed to think for a minute, let my words sink in before she snapped her mouth shut again. I watched her anger simmer behind her eyes, but she just nodded, more to herself than me. “I don’t need to answer you.”
“That is true.” I walked closer to her. “You don’t need to speak with me.”
“But you have to explain yourself to me.” Sterling’s voice was glacial. “Now, since you won’t answer Alpha Amy’s question, I’m going to demand you answer mine. Why are you here, Alpha Nina?”
She spun around, and I watched as she tried to puff up. “Who do you think you are speaking to me like this?” She took a step up to him. “I’m…” She looked at me and I watched her mouth tighten. But she didn’t say anything else.
I walked up behind her. “You’re what, Nina?” I sidled up next to her. “You can’t say you are the next queen now, can you?” I smirked. “Not since the king announced his engagement.” I tilted my head. “Now, what is your rise to power? Is it your uncle’s position on the council? No, can’t be that. He’s dead. Your sisters’ power was next in line? Has she actually taken over the chair?” I smirked as she paled. “What could you possibly wield over all of us this time?”
She stuttered. “I’m an Alpha in my own right.” She sneered before she turned back to Sterling. “You’re just a guard.”
I snorted. “He is a Royal Gamma.” I cut a look at her out the side of my eyes. “You do realize that, right?”
“He’s a Gamma.” She sneered.
“A royal one.” I turned to face her. “I have the distinct feeling you don’t understand the difference.”
Sterling crossed his arms. “Not many do.” He looked her up and down. “I am as polite as I am because of my position. But you have run my patience dry, Alpha Nina.”
She snarled. “You don’t get to talk to me like that.” She pointed to his face. “Royal Pack or not, you are a lowly Gamma, barely a step up from being unranked. You are pathetic.” I threw my head back and laughed as Sterling’s face settled in cold, calculating lines. She whirled on me. “Why are you laughing?”
“Because you are stupider than I had originally thought.” I strode to Sterling’s side. “You were so obsessed with Rowan, only to get tossed away. And now you are here, insulting his guard and friend.”
She looked between us. “You’re bluffing. He’s just a Gamma!” She shrieked at me.
“I honestly think you never paid attention in school.” She growled, but stayed silent. “Let me spell it out for you.” She crossed her arms and waited. But I could tell on her face that she didn’t expect me to say anything of importance.
“Go on then.” She smirked. “Tell me how important this Gamma is.”
I smirked. “What do you know of the Royal Pack?”
“They no longer exist. It was the Lycan pack, but they are all dead. So the king filled it with random wolves.” She looked at me with wide eyes and a snarky grin.
I nodded. “I mean, you are sort of right.” She looked smug. “But I mean not really.” Her smile dropped. “There have always been wolves in the Royal Pack. It’s not just Lycans. And those wolves that he ‘filled’ the pack with weren’t random. But wolves he’s trusted, trained, and grown to care about. Any of them in any position with rank means that he specifically selected themfor the position because he is the Alpha of the pack, as well as the King.”
She rolled her eyes. “So.”
“So…” I snorted. “Sterling is Rowan’s friend, a close friend to be selected to guard his home.” I looked back at Sterling, and he nodded. “Did I get it right?”
He looked down at me and smiled. “Almost.” My smile dropped. “I don’t normally bring this up because it doesn’t matter, but my family has always been in the Royal Pack, because I’m Rowan’s cousin. Sadly, I didn’t get the Lycan gene. I was raised with him his entire life.” Then he turned back to Nina. “Lowly Gamma and all that aside, Rowan is my brother. And you have been told you aren’t allowed here anymore. If you come here again, I will push for your family to be excommunicated fully.”
Nina shrieked as she stormed off and I just smiled after her. “Well, that was fun.” I turned to face Sterling, who was staring at me. “Ready?” I walked out the door, and he trailed after me.
“That’s it?” His voice sounded incredulous.
I turned back, confused. “What?”
“That’s your reaction to what I just said. Being related to Rowan, being part Lycan. Nothing?” He crossed his arms.
I felt my brows furrow. “Did you want me to freak out?” He shook his head. “Lose my mind and beg you to call him?” He tilted his head back and forth like he was considering it. I snorted. “Sterling, let me just say this. I like you as a friend. And nothing you say will change that. Not your position and definitely not who you are related to.” I reached up and patted his arm. “Plus.” I pulled out my phone and wiggled it. “I still have his number. If I wanted to speak to him, I could just call him myself.” I grinned and then turned back to the car.
“You seriously don’t care?” He sounded genuinely confused.
I laughed. “Not one bit. Why would I?” He stared at me for a minute and then walked around the other side of the car and slipped in. I heard my door unlocked, and I opened the door to see a small box full of things. I slipped it off the seat and settled with it between my legs. I closed the door and looked at Sterling, who was already looking at me. “What?”
“I don’t know. I’m just not used to someone not caring about it.” He tapped the steering wheel and then looked at me again. “I’m honestly a little lost.” He snorted.
