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“If you hadn't left the administration of this university to your irresponsible brother, you wouldn't have any problems with these cunts now.”

Alarik clenched his hands behind his back into fists.

I wondered when the two of them would finally get at each other's throats.

Dimitrio turned back to Father.

“Isn't there anyone else who could take on this task? Someone responsible who is close to you?”

As close as Emely. Outside. In front of the door.

“These matters are none of your concern, Dimitrio,” Alarik growled.

“Maverick Jones, Rohan Wheeler... They are good men.” Dimitrio continued, stubbornly ignoring him.

I peeked at the door as if I could see my sister through the wood.

She always managed to eavesdrop on us. Over and over again. And no one else ever realized.

Over time, I had learned to interpret the different kinds of silence in our house, which wasn't difficult when you grew up here and were attentive enough to recognize the sounds different substances made on different surfaces from varying distances. Added to that was the fact that I was blessed with exceptionally good hearing. I had stood here many times before, with Emy outside the door.

Emy's silence was filled with barely audible gasps, two of which I had noticed so far. One when the Russian had wanted to decide Julian's fate, and one when I had expressed “my opinion” on the matter.

“Nash?”

Alarmed, I looked at my father, keeping my hands clasped behind my back. A gesture of respect that had become second nature.

“I'd like to talk to our guest and your uncle alone now.”

A wave of relief washed over me. This was the perfect moment to continue what I had started before this conversation.

The paperback in my waistband was now pressing uncomfortably against me.

I nodded to my father, turned away, and walked toward the door, but didn't open it right away, giving Emy time to step back. Then I stepped outside, closed the door, and looked around.

Camera Obscura

Angus McRae

That damn cat.

Emely had disappeared.

All the better. That gave me more time to carry out my smuggling attempt.

With watchful glances, I made my way up the wide, carpeted wooden staircase of our old family estate.

I had to hurry so no one would spot me, because even though only our family lived here, all the other pack members were here every day, meeting up, hanging out in the house, and there was almost always something going on.

When I reached the top, I looked around before entering the right wing. Alarik's part of the house.

I still wondered how someone who wasn't even the Alpha could have gotten their hands on an entire wing.

Carefully, I sneaked across the wooden floor, avoiding the floorboards that creaked.

If there was one thing that hadn't been replaced, apart from all the hunting trophies, it was those stupid floorboards.

I understood why Alarik had insisted on keeping them. You could hear if someone unauthorized was snooping around in the wrong part of the house.