“You’ve been here before,” I said. She clearly knew her way around.
“Hail held the first National Assembly I attended,” she answered.
She paused before she pushed open another swing door.
“Are you ready to see him?” she asked softly.
And I hated it. Hated that she was thinking of me or pretending to think of me or whatever she was doing.
“Does it matter either way?” I asked.
Cole pushed open the swing door into another corridor.
I didn’t think it did.
We stopped outside a door with a plaque reading "Conference Room D."
Cole didn’t knock before she opened the door.
Alpha Julian was sitting at one side of a surprisingly small table. Six seats total, three on either side. Ashford sat beside him. I could see the anger in the way he sucked his teeth at our entrance and stared at me until I looked away.
“Good evening,” Cole said, pulling out the seat opposite Ashford.
I waited at the wall near the door.
“Good evening,” Alpha Julian greeted curtly.
“Omega,” Cole said, and I looked up from my shoes to her.
She was waiting beside the pulled-out chair, not looking at me but directly at Ashford.
I walked over hesitantly and sat down.
“Good girl,” she praised.
Ashford made a choked sort of sound in his throat.
My face grew red.
What was she playing at?
“Thank you for agreeing to meet with me outside of the schedule,” Alpha Julian said once Cole had sat in the seat opposite him.
“You mean outside of the curiosity of the other Packs attending the National Assembly?” Cole asked.
Alpha Julian scowled only momentarily before his features became neutral.
“Yes,” he agreed. “This is a sensitive subject.”
“How do you propose to settle the matter of your heir’s gambling debts?” Cole asked.
“I didn’t know Sandstorm was in the habit of purchasing such debts,” Alpha Julian commented.
Cole shrugged casually.
“I’m always open to new opportunities,” she replied.
Alpha Julian nodded and cleared his throat.
