Kieran opened the door to another bedroom, my real and private sanctuary. The difference between this room and the one I had just left was astounding. Gone were the opulent furnishings and silk sheets; instead, this space offered a simple, homely atmosphere that allowed me to escape from the chaos of my life.
"Thanks," I muttered, stepping into the room and making a beeline for the private bathroom. I turned on the shower, the sound of water hitting the tiles providing a soothing backdrop to the storm brewing inside me.
"Your father's been asking when you're going to deal with the girl in the cells," Kieran remarked, leaning against the bathroom doorway.
"Fuck him," I spat, my hands gripping the edge of the sink. "I'll deal with her when I'm good and ready. What does it matter to him, anyway?"
"Jasper, you know how he is," Kieran sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. "He wants results, and he wants them now."
"Then let him go down there and get his hands dirty for once," I growled, stepping into the shower and letting the hot water cascade over my body. The heat did little to quell my anger, but it did wash away the physical remnants of last night's debauchery.
"Look, I know you're pissed off," Kieran continued, his voice barely audible over the roar of the water. "But you need to keep your eye on the prize. Remember why we're doing all of this."
"Sometimes I wonder if it's even worth it," I admitted, my voice barely a whisper as I leaned against the shower wall. "All this fucking scheming and manipulation... What's the point?"
"Power, Jasper," Kieran replied firmly. "Control over our own destiny, instead of letting that bastard call the shots. That's the point."
I closed my eyes, letting his words sink in. He was right; we had come too far to let anything, or anyone, stand in our way. We just needed to stay focused and remember what truly mattered.
"Fine," I conceded, turning off the water and stepping out of the shower. "Let's go see what the old man wants. But I swear, if he tries to force my hand with that girl, there'll be hell to pay."
"Speaking of problems," Kieran began, leaning against the bathroom door frame as I towelled myself off. "Your father's been getting complaints about Grant. Apparently, he beat the shit out of another warrior last night in the cells."
"Fuck," I muttered, my anger flaring once again. I had told Grant not to go down there, but it seemed my words fell on deaf ears. "He just can't keep his hands off that girl, can he?"
"Seems like he's got a soft spot for her," Kieran replied, raising an eyebrow.
I clenched my fists, remembering how things had changed between Grant and me since Jessica entered the picture. That power-hungry bitch had driven a wedge between us, forcing Grant to question his loyalty to me. In the end, I had allowed him to kill her himself, but the damage to our friendship was irreversible. Afterward, Grant had volunteered for an undercover assignment, leaving Kieran and me behind. I never replaced him as my Gamma, though; that bond was too deep to simply discard. We were once like brothers, him, Kieran, and me. We spent our teenage years together, figuring out this fucked-up world we live in.
"I think you should talk to him, Jasper," Kieran suggested. "Try to reach some sort of understanding before things escalate even further."
"Talk to him?" I scoffed. "What good would that do?" After what I did to him, I doubt the guy would ever think of me again without hatred.
"He's just trying to protect the girl," Kieran pointed out. "You know how he is, always had a soft spot for the vulnerable."
"Soft spots have no place in our world," I said bitterly. "They only lead to weakness and betrayal."
"True," Kieran agreed. "But sometimes, we can't help who or what we care about. Just be careful, Jasper. If you push Grant too far, you might lose him for good."
"Maybe I already have," I murmured, feeling a pang of sadness deep within me. I recalled the numerous times Grant had attacked our warriors on guard duty, his determination to keep Felix away from the redhead currently residing in our cells bordering on obsession. It made me question his loyalties, and that was something I couldn't afford to do.
"Grant," I growled into our mental link, the impatience seeping into my voice. "Get your ass to my room. Now." As I walked around the bedroom, Kieran looked up from where he had been casually lounging on the edge of my dresser. His hazel eyes held a glimmer of amusement, no doubt at the sight of me storming about in nothing but a towel. I ignored him, pulling on a pair of black trousers and a matching shirt, the fabric feeling stifling against my still-damp skin.
"About time you cleaned up, Jasper," Kieran drawled, smirking as I shot him a glare.
"Shut it," I snapped, running a hand through my hair to tame the wild blond strands. "I've got more important things to deal with right now."
Before I could say anything else, the door to my room burst open, revealing a furious-looking Grant. He stormed into the room without so much as a knock, his eyes narrowing in contempt as they met mine.
"What the fuck do you want now?" he demanded, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Nice to see you too, Grant," I sneered, unable to keep the anger from bubbling up inside me. "I called you here because I wanted to talk about your latest little stunt. You know, the one where you decided to beat the shit out of another guard?" Grant's jaw clenched, and for a moment, I thought he might actually try to argue with me. But instead, he simply stared me down, defiance sparking in his eyes.
"Maybe if you actually kept a better eye on your men, I wouldn't have to deal with them myself," he shot back, his voice dripping with venom.
"Excuse me?!" I barked, my rage boiling over. "You listen here, Grant. It's not your place to interfere with my warriors. If you continue this way, I'll ban you from the cells altogether."
"Go ahead and try," he snarled, his eyes challenging me. "But don't expect me to stand idly by while they harass her. Unlike some people, I actually give a damn about her wellbeing."
