Chapter 105: I Never Forget It

Before I could create any more distance, Benjamin reacted with frightening speed. His arm shot out, catching me around the waist and pulling me flush against his chest before I could dodge.

His grip was firm, unyielding, trapping me in his heat as his gaze locked onto mine with a dark, suffocating intensity.

"Then tell me," he rasped, his breath brushing against my lips, "what is this about?"

"Nothing," I said, my voice completely flat and unyielding despite the sudden heat radiating between us. "It has to do with nothing."

I placed my palm flat against his collarbone, not pushing him away, but putting just enough tension between us to establish a boundary. I held his intense gaze without blinking, letting the cold, lethal reality of my world bleed through every word.

"I’m just telling you to be careful, Benjamin. Don’t joke with your life just because you have the backing, just because you have the resources, or because you feel like you’re untouchable. You aren’t untouchable. Even the smallest organism can bring down a mountain. Remember that."

The terrace fell completely still around us, the cool night air rustling the dark hair at his forehead.

The arrogant, teasing curve of his lips faded completely. For a long, breathless moment, Benjamin just stared down at me, taking in the dark, serious weight in my eyes—the cold wisdom of someone who knew the exact fragility of a life far better than any pampered high-born Alpha ever could.

If even I, who was a master of assassination, one who boasted to know and understand death perfectly, could die from a single stab, then there was no one else who can be said to be untouchable.

His grip around my waist softened, though he didn’t let go entirely. Instead, his thumb brushed slowly against the side of my hip, his purple eyes darkening into a quiet, profound intensity.

"I never forget it," he murmured raspy.

He leaned down just a fraction more, his voice dropping into a low, quiet vow that brushed straight against my skin. "Especially not when it comes to you."

What was he even on about now?

He sounded so ridiculously serious, his tone dropping into that low, velvety register that would usually send other wolves swooning. But to me, it was just utterly baffling.

Especially not when it comes to you?

Was he implying that I was the organism capable of bringing down his mountain? Or was he trying to turn my dead-serious safety lecture into another one of his dramatic, high-born Alpha joke?

Before I could call him an idiot again or shove his collarbone hard enough to break his grip, Benjamin let out a soft, low huff near my ear. The intense storm in his eyes dissipated as quickly as it had gathered, replaced by that familiar, infuriating half-smirk.

"You look like you’re trying to solve a complex math equation in your head, Brianna," he murmured, his thumb giving my hip one last, deliberate squeeze before he finally released my waist and stepped back.

"I’m trying to figure out if your allergy medication affected your brain," I stated, smoothing down the front of my shirt and crossing my arms over my chest. "Because half the things coming out of your mouth tonight make zero sense."

Benjamin just laughed, running a hand through his dark hair as he turned back toward the stone balustrade. "You’ll figure it out eventually. In the meantime, I should probably leave before my dear uncle decides to test if I’m allergic to silver blades, too."

"You’re leaving?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as he took a step toward the steps.

Benjamin paused, turning his head back toward me with a lazy, amused tilt. "Why? Want me to stay?"

"Don’t be ridiculous," I snapped instantly, crossing my arms over my chest.

I just thought he would stay given he had literally just almost died on our dining table. It was a perfect excuse. "Wasn’t it care you were looking for?"

Benjamin turned fully, the dim moonlight catching the infuriating, slow smirk spreading across his face. "If I stay... will you take care of me all night?"

I stared at him deadpan for one silent second, completely unimpressed by the heavy, velvet implication in his raspy voice.

"Don’t forget to lock the door on your way out," I said flatly, turning my back on him.

A sudden, deep burst of laughter erupted from his chest—a genuine, musical sound that echoed softly across the quiet gardens as he shook his head and walked off into the night.

I stood alone on the terrace for a long moment, the cool night air washing over me as the faint rumble of his coupe’s engine echoed in the distance before fading away entirely.

I let out a heavy breath, rubbing the back of my neck. Alphas. They really were the most bizarre, overcomplicated creatures on the planet.

Turning back toward the glass doors, I froze.

Edgar was standing just inside the dimly lit hallway, leaning casually against the doorframe. He had swapped his crystal glass for a sleek, leather-bound folder, his dark, golden eyes fixed entirely on me, glinting with a sharp, dangerous intelligence in the shadows.

"Did my nephew finally take his leave?" Edgar asked smoothly, stepping out onto the cool stone terrace.

"He did," I replied, my assassin walls sliding seamlessly back into place. "And shouldn’t you be resting? It’s late."

"An Alpha rarely sleeps early, little cat," Edgar purred, stopping a foot away from me. He raised the folder in his hand, tapping it lightly against his palm. "Especially not when tomorrow marks the start of your official preparation for the tournament."

My eyes narrowed as I looked at the dark folder. "PReparation for the tournament?" I thought I was doing fine on my own.

"You didn’t think I’d let you train on your own, did you?" Edgar smiled—a dark, razor-sharp expression that sent a familiar, thrilling chill down my spine. "I know your capabilites, but I hardly believe you’ll make do with veetube vidoes."

He thinks I train by watching combat vidoes online? Cute.

"So, starting tomorrow, I am personally assigning you a battle instructor. Let’s see if that cold discipline of yours is enough to survive the bloodbath waiting for you."