Henrik could not stop watching her.
It was not attraction, he was certain of that.
At least, that was what he kept telling himself.
There was simply something about Alpha Colette Ansgard that did not make sense anymore.
The woman sitting across from him was supposed to be the same ruthless Alpha he had met seven years ago, the woman whose name alone was enough to make weaker Alphas lower their voices, yet the woman in front of him was different.
Too different.
Laura sat comfortably on her lap, playing with the silver-white ends of Colette’s hair as though she had known her all her life.
Every few seconds, the little girl whispered something into her ear, and Colette would answer patiently, sometimes with a small smile that Henrik was beginning to realize very few people had probably ever seen.
Twenty-four hours.
That was all it had taken for his daughter to decide that the most feared woman on the continent was safe.
Henrik still couldn’t understand it.
Laura barely tolerated strangers.
She had refused several nannies, hidden behind Henrik whenever unfamiliar guests visited, and once spent an entire afternoon locked inside his study because a visiting Alpha had tried to carry her.
Yet here she was, curled against Colette like she belonged there.
Henrik cleared his throat.
“Good morning, Alpha Colette.” Colette looked up from Laura.
“Good morning, Alpha Henrik.
Lovely day, isn’t—” Her words died.
Her gaze had locked onto something behind him.
Henrik turned.
Marcus walked into the dining hall.
The older man looked perfectly relaxed, dressed in a dark tailored suit with silver cufflinks that caught the morning light.
He carried himself with the easy confidence of someone who had never needed permission to enter this house.
Henrik frowned.
“Marcus?” Marcus smiled.
“Good morning.” “I thought you were returning to IronClaw yesterday.” “I intended to.” Marcus pulled out a chair.
“Unfortunately, a few matters came up.
There were some things concerning the funeral invitation and a few old debts that needed clarification.” Henrik nodded.
That sounded like Marcus, the man had spent decades beside his father.
After the late Alpha’s death, Marcus had been one of the people who helped Henrik navigate the transition into leadership.
He had advised him during his early years and had always presented himself as someone Henrik could rely on.
In many ways, Marcus had been more present in Henrik’s life than some of his own relatives.
Henrik glanced toward Colette.
She had gone completely still.
The hand resting on Laura’s back had tightened, and her fingers were curled slightly into the child’s dress.
Her expression remained composed, but her eyes were fixed on Marcus with such intensity that Henrik felt a small knot form in his stomach.
“Everything all right?” he asked quietly.
Colette blinked, and the tension in her face disappeared almost instantly.
“Of course.” It was too quick.
Henrik had spent years reading people during negotiations.
He knew what it looked like when someone was hiding something.
And Colette was hiding something.
Elias pulled out her chair before Henrik could say anything else.
Laura refused to move from Colette’s lap, so Colette simply adjusted the little girl and sat down.
Marcus took the seat across from them.
“Forgive my early return, Henrik.” “There is nothing to forgive.
Sit.” Breakfast continued, but Henrik found himself paying more attention to Colette than his food, she barely touched anything.
Every few moments, her eyes moved toward Marcus, and each time they did, the same strange tension returned to her face.
Not ordinary suspicion.
Hatred.
Henrik had seen hatred before, he had seen it on the faces of warriors who had lost family members in battle and prisoners facing the people responsible for their suffering.
This looked different.
This looked personal.
“You’ve met Alpha Marcus,” Henrik said.
Colette slowly lifted her eyes, for a moment, something dark crossed her face.
“Yes.” Her voice was clipped.
Marcus smiled.
“It is truly an honor to finally meet you, Alpha Colette.
I have heard many stories about Bloodmoon.
Your reputation certainly precedes you.” “I imagine it does.” The answer was cold enough to make the servants nearby lower their eyes.
Marcus chuckled.
“I would have liked my daughter and niece to meet you properly, but they were called home on an urgent matter.
I’m sure you’ll see more of them soon.” Colette’s fingers tightened around Laura’s hand.
She didn’t respond and this made the silence stretched.
Henrik felt irritation rise in his chest.
He understood that Colette wasn’t a warm person, but Marcus was his guest.
He had known the man for years, and openly dismissing him was disrespectful.
Before he could intervene, Laura lifted her head.
“Papa?” “Yes?” “Are you going to marry Miss Colette?” A few servants at the far end of the dining hall tried to hide their smiles.
Henrik closed his eyes briefly.
“Laura.” “What?” “We don’t ask questions like that during breakfast.” “Why?” “Because it’s rude.” Laura frowned as though she had been given an unreasonable answer.
“I think you should marry her.” Henrik stared at his daughter.
Marcus’s smile widened.
Laura continued, completely unaware of the tension surrounding her.
“She is beautiful.
You’re handsome.
I’m pretty too.
We’ll make a family.” The words settled over the table.
Henrik glanced at Colette.
She wasn’t smiling, her eyes remained fixed on Marcus.
“Laura.” The little girl finally looked at him.
“One more word about marriage and you’re going to your room.” Laura’s lips pressed together.
She immediately turned and buried her face against Colette’s shoulder.
Colette’s expression softened.
Without thinking, she wrapped an arm around the child’s back and rubbed it gently.
Henrik noticed the movement.
The woman who had supposedly spent years terrifying entire packs was holding his daughter as though protecting her was the most natural thing in the world.
Something uncomfortable shifted inside him.
He pushed it away.
Marcus leaned forward slightly.
“You don’t seem to like me very much, Colette.” Colette finally looked at him.
“It is Alpha Colette.” Marcus’s eyebrows rose.
“My apologies.
Alpha Colette.” “Better.” “May I ask why you dislike me?” Henrik waited.
Colette’s gaze didn’t leave Marcus.
“I have a habit of recognizing people who hide what they truly are.” Marcus’s smile remained.
“And what exactly do you think I’m hiding?” Colette’s fingers slowly moved over Laura’s hair.
“People like that always carry a stench.” The room went silent as Marcus’s smile faltered for half a second.
Only half a second but Henrik saw it.
Something changed in the older man’s eyes before the pleasant expression returned.
“I assure you,” Marcus said calmly, “I have nothing to hide.” Colette’s lips curved slightly.
It wasn’t a smile.
“Eventually,” she said, “you won’t.” Henrik felt the hairs rise on the back of his neck.
He had no idea what was happening between them.
But something was, and he intended to find out.
Breakfast ended soon after.
The atmosphere remained strained until Laura was finally taken away by her nanny.
The moment his daughter disappeared from the room, Colette’s entire demeanor changed.
The softness disappeared.
Her shoulders straightened, and the warmth that had been present while Laura sat against her seemed to vanish.
Henrik watched her walk toward the study.
He followed.
“My lawyers will arrive shortly with the revised contract,” he said as they entered.
“Good.” She walked toward the window and folded her arms across her chest as she stared outside.
Henrik closed the door.
He studied her for several seconds before speaking.
“How do you know Marcus?” Her shoulders stiffened.
She turned slowly.
“I don’t.” The answer came too quickly.
Henrik’s eyes narrowed.
“You don’t?” “Not the way you do.” He crossed his arms.
“He was my father’s closest adviser.” “I know.” “He helped my family through difficult times.
I’ve known him since I was a boy.” Colette looked away.
“In many ways, he has been like a second father to me.” Something flickered across her face.
Pain, the anger.
Henrik wasn’t sure which.
“You trust him completely, then?” she asked.
“I do.” A quiet breath escaped her.
It almost sounded like a laugh.
“Lovely.” Henrik frowned.
“You really don’t like him.” “Was it that obvious?” “You practically threatened him at breakfast.” “I didn’t threaten him.” “You told him he carries a stench.” “He does.” Henrik stared at her.
Despite himself, he almost smiled.
Almost.
“You realize you’re going to have to spend time around him if we marry.” Her expression hardened.
“Then I suppose I’ll have to tolerate him.” “Why?” She looked at him.
For one brief second, Henrik saw something raw in her eyes.
Not anger, but in fear.
Then it disappeared.
“I don’t trust him.” “That isn’t an answer.” “It is the only one you’re getting.” Henrik stepped closer.
“Colette.” Her jaw tightened.
“You should be careful about who you trust, Henrik.” The use of his name instead of his title caught him off guard.
She continued, her voice quieter.
“People can spend years standing beside you and still be waiting for the right moment to put a knife in your back.” Henrik stared at her.
“That sounds personal.” “It is.” Before he could ask anything else, she turned toward the door.
“Send the revised contract to Bloodmoon.
I’ll review it there.” Henrik followed her through the corridor, but the questions in his mind only multiplied.
He had known Marcus for most of his life and had never once questioned the man’s loyalty, yet Colette’s reaction had planted a doubt he couldn’t ignore.
There had been something in her eyes when she looked at Marcus, something far too personal to be explained by simple distrust.
At the entrance, the morning air was cool against their skin.
Her carriage waited at the bottom of the steps, with Elias already standing beside it and two guards positioned nearby.
Henrik stopped beside her.
“I look forward to finalizing our contract.” Colette turned to him.
For the first time that morning, the coldness in her expression softened.
She looked tired, but there was determination behind her eyes, the kind that made him wonder what she had been fighting long before she ever walked into SilverFang.
“So do I.” She turned toward the carriage, her silver-white hair moving gently in the morning breeze.
Elias stepped forward to open the door for her.
Colette placed one hand on the handle.
Henrik was about to turn back toward the packhouse when a sharp crack tore through the courtyard.
A gunshot.