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“My brother is also right. What kind of Alpha would I be if I didn't take in a Senseque who was being hunted by the Quatura?”

I tried not to let my surprise show.

Alarik began to play with the furniture, running his fingers over the golden and brown wood edges, his golden Copeland signet ring lightly grazing the edge of the table.

On the right sleeve of his white shirt, which was sticking out from under his sweater, I thought I could make out a small coffee stain. Or was it black washed-out ink?

“She's a female Senseque. Young,” laughed the Russian Alpha. “She could be good for business.”

His words reminded me of why he was here, and everything inside me tensed.

Ever since Mikhail fucking Rolanow walked through this house and tried to pursue my sister, I had actually felt something like real aggression. It wasn't like on campus, where I played the cocky Alpha son. It was real.

Alarik's head shot up, and his eyes began to glow.

“How dare you...” my uncle gritted out, lunging forward, his fists clenched and his jaw tense.

That was the moment when I broke out of my stupor and stepped between him and our guest.

I let my eyes glow and tried to look threatening at my uncle, even though I had exactly the same intention as him at that moment. But if he attacked him now, I would have no chance of carrying out my plans later.

I didn't know yet what I could do, but I would find a way to save my sister from my father's political deal.

Alarik backed off slightly and looked at me with a hesitant expression, but I also took a step back.

The Russian Alpha saw this as an invitation to provoke Alarik further.

“What were you even doing in the witch quarter, huh?”

If Alarik had something to hide again, he was hiding it well.

“I wanted to look around the Bardot house for clues about Julian’s whereabouts,” he replied, addressing my father.

This time it was the Russian's jaw that tensed.

Father's expression was worried.

Neither of them said anything, and I knew Father was still digesting the events of the winter ball.

“The boy must be somewhere,” my uncle continued stubbornly.

Once again, he was worried about someone who wasn't even part of the pack.

But what was I complaining about? Was I any better than him?

“That traitor belongs six feet under!” Dimitrio spat out.

Of course, Father had filled him in on the Julian situation. And in the eyes of the Russian Alpha, Julian’s behavior was high treason against the code.

The only betrayal I saw in Julian’s behavior was that of my sister and me.

“What is your fucking…” Alarik began, and was about to lunge at the Russian again when my father raised his hand.

“Alarik!”

But Alarik just glared menacingly at Dimitrio.

“Julian will come back. And then he will fulfill his duties.”