Word Count: 1717
~Hunter
Yawning, I stretch back, letting the sun warm my skin.
"I don't know about you, Hunter, but I'm starving," Tay exclaims, popping the lid off a container that holds some strange looking paste.
She insisted on having lunch together on the lawn, claiming she wants to spend more time together as 'sisters.' Unfortunately for me, she has insisted on making everything herself, and after living her whole life having everything cooked for her, it seems I am merely an experiment.
I eye the food cautiously, although my stomach grumbles. "Me too. It's been a long day of training."
"With Kaan?"
"No, he's been doing business with his father, apparently. Or in other words, avoiding me completely," I mutter, digging into a small bowl of grapes, popping one into my mouth.
Kaan and I haven't spoken since he told me he is unfazed by the idea of me leaving before we can be married, expressing how uninterested in me he truly is.
It's not as if I have suspected he would be interested in me, but it has successfully offended me.
I know for a fact that he has been avoiding me because he has since returned from his morning business, and is now proceeding to train with Zain and Saren on the other side of the field, near the trees.
He's making his stance blatantly clear. He can't stand me.
"What do you think about Zain and Saren?" Tay asks, training her sharp gaze on the pair who take turns sparring with Kaan.
I pick at the individual food that Tay hasn't mushed together into something abhorrent. "They are nice enough. Why?"
When Tay doesn't respond right away, I give her a sideways glance. A mischievous smile plays at her lips as she looks between me and the pair.
"No reason. I just thought I'd prove my point today."
"What do you mean?" I ask apprehensively. I've learnt that when Tay gets a thought into her head, it's hard to expel it. Especially when it's a devious plan.
I want to care more than I do, but if I'm entirely honest, my gaze keeps fluttering over to the gardens, where I expect Edgar to be working.
I need to talk to him, and soon.
"You don't think Kaan has feelings for you, but I can prove to you he does..." Tay exclaims, rubbing her hands together.
I eye her suspiciously. "You can't be serious."
Kaan not being into me isn't a problem. It's not even something that bothers me. I'm not about to tell Tay that I plan on ditching her brother and our future marriage, as I don't want to hurt her feelings, but her trying to get Kaan and I together isn't going to work.
"I may or may not have alluded to Saren that you are kind of attracted to him," she says meekly, although her cunning smile can't be missed.
My mouth falls open. "Tay-"
Tay cuts me off, suddenly waving her hand wildly in Kaan's direction. I turn to realise they have been approaching us, likely heading back to the house now that their training session is done.
"Brother! Would you like a sandwich?" Tay asks, holding the plate up.
I lower my gaze, flushing. Things are still tense between Kaan and I, and now I have Saren to worry about.
Kaan's expression is pure disgust as he investigates the plate of food he knows his sister made. It doesn't help that all the condiments are spilling out of the bread.
"No, but I won't say no to some water," he states, gesturing to the pitcher of ice water Tay brought out.
Tay fills three glasses and hands them to the three in turn. I take a glimpse at Saren, Kaan's close friend, who I find to be looking right back at me. I doubt Kaan has told him about our engagement.
"What have you been doing all day?" Tay asks sweetly. I glare at her, looking at the picture of innocence with her fawn brown curls brushed over her shoulders, her yellow sundress pooled around her legs.
"Father wanted me to look over some things. Boring stuff," Kaan states after he drains his glass.
I avert my gaze from him again. At least he's wearing a shirt today, although the dark fabric clings to his skin, slightly damp from sweat. Even I can admit he's glorious to look at.
"Hunter has been training all morning," Tay notes, looking at me expectantly.
Kaan frowns, pinning me with his gaze. "Have you?"
"Thought I better." I shrug casually, brushing my hair over my shoulder. He knows that we have been training on mornings like these, and now that I'm struggling to heal again, I would want that extra time to train.
"I'm not sure continuing your training is a good idea," he states gruffly.
My fingers roll up into fists. We both know why he is saying that. I just wish he would make it clear whether he actually wants me to leave here or not.
"It is, actually."
Zain and Saren are happy to train Hunter if you can't, brother," Tay muses, looking between the pair.
They both seem to feel the tension in the air, because they both shift uncomfortably from foot to foot. Saren is still watching me, like he's waiting to say something, but I avoid his gaze. That poor man doesn't need to be involved in this mess.
Kaan looks expectantly at his friends. "Is that right..."
Tay gets up, offering her seat on the picnic blanket. "Saren, why don't you have something to eat."
Saren immediately shakes his head, also off put by the state of the food, which is starting to fester under the heat of the sun. "I'm alright, thank you, Tay."
"Something on your mind, Saren?" Tay asks.
He rubs the back of his neck, arctic blue eyes shifting back to me.
"Ah, Hunter, is there a chance I would be able to talk to you in private, for a moment?" He asks.
I go to nod, wanting out of this situation immediately, hoping Saren plans on turning me down. Before I get the chance, Kaan puts a hand on Saren's chest, giving him a long look.
"It's nothing you can't say in front of the rest of us, I'm sure." Kaan says it like a command, like a challenge. He must sense something is going on.
Saren practically winces, looking beyond uncomfortably. "I'd much rather say it to just Hunter-"
"Spit it out, Saren!" Tay encourages.
"I know you're probably not allowed off palace grounds, but I was thinking I could cook you something up, and we could eat dinner together sometime," he says quickly, holding my gaze instead of looking at Kaan, who is staring at him with a dark frown on his face.
I blink. "You cook?"
"I do, actually." He smiles weakly, rubbing a hand through his dark hair. He is holding himself together fairly well despite the Alpha looking at him like he wants to kill him.
"Last time I checked, Hunter is engaged to me," Kaan growls before I get a chance to turn Saren down kindly. It's not because there is anything wrong with him, he's quite handsome, I just know I can't leave anything behind when I leave.
Saren's eyes widen as he turns to his friend. "You told me yourself that it's not real."
"Maybe not, but you're not going to be doing anything with her, got it?" Kaan hisses lowly, as if he thinks Tay, Zain and I can't hear everything he is saying.
Tay grins from ear to ear, looking between me and Kaan, wiggling her brows like her point is proven. I think otherwise, though. He just doesn't want anything to get out about Saren and I to the public.
Saren drops his gaze to his feet. "Sorry Kaan..."
I sigh through my nose, officially irritated. Regardless of how long I stay here, I don't need Kaan to tell me who and who I cannot spend time with. Just because we are technically engaged does not mean he controls me.
"Actually, Saren, I quite like the idea of dinner. You do so well training me, I'd like to see what else you're good at," I say sweetly, giving him my best smile.
His eyes widen as Kaan leans over to whisper something in his ear. He nods promptly before turning and walking away, Zain following him.
"What the hell was that?" I snap, gaping at him. Tay quickly sits back down, having gotten exactly what she wanted.
Kaan slides his hands into his pockets. "What was what?"
"You threatened him, didn't you? Do you just want to see me suffer?" I demand. I wish I could stand up, so I can get in his face, despite our height difference.
He just makes me so angry.
Kaan stares me down, the heat in his gaze burning my skin. "I don't think you need to be going on a date with him. Not when you're moving away so soon."
"That's not the real reason, is it?"
"What do you suggest the real reason is?" He challenges.
I feel myself trembling with anger, ready to throw Tay's deformed cake and its melting icing at his face. "Do you not want you soon to be wife ruined? Do you want her to be a sweet, innocent virgin-"
"Of course not," he cuts in, shaking his head.
"Alright, why don't we all take a breath," Tay says quickly, realising this has overstepped a major line. "All that matters is you're getting married soon, and you're going to be happy."
I shake my head. There will be no happiness in Kaan and I's future.
He pins me with his stare. "Whether you stay or not, Hunter, you are promised as my wife. I may not be entitled to you, but I'm not going to stand by and let you get with someone else."
With that, he walks past and toward the house, leaving both Tay and I stunned.
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