Chapter 108 SAGE


    The next morning, the air in the hotel restaurant buzzed with tension. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the room in a warm glow that felt at odds with the icy atmosphere at the table.


    Kieran, the hunter, lounged casually in his chair, sipping coffee like he hadn''t a care in the world. His sharp, calcting eyes roved over the group,nding briefly on Titus before flicking to me.


    "Morning," he greeted with a grin, gently raising his coffee cup.


    That gesture immediately earned a sharp looking from Titus.


    He was ring at me, and his eyes were filled with usations.


    I quickly look away from Titus after responding a stiff nod towards Kieran, sliding into the chair across from Titus. My movements were deliberate, but my pulse quickened as I felt Titus''s eyes boring into me from across the table. His sharp gaze hadn''t softened sincest night, and I didn''t need to look to know he was still fuming.


    "Coffee?" Scott offered, clearly trying to break the tension as he handed me a steaming cup.


    "Thanks," I murmured, avoiding Titus''s re by focusing on pouring cream into my coffee.


    Kieran leaned back in his chair, his smirk widening as he nced at Titus. "Alpha, you look like you didn''t sleep a wink. Too much on your mind?"


    Titus''s fork ttered against his te, his grip tightening around the silverware. "Stay in yourne, hunter," he said coolly, though the edge in his tone was unmistakable.


    "Easy now," Kieran chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender.Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    "Just trying to make conversation," he added before turning his attention squarely to me. "How about you, littledy? d you made it back safe and soundst night."


    My body stiffened, and my heart skipped a beat. Panic rose in my chest as his words sank in. We had an agreement-no one was supposed to know about the deal we struckst night. I shot him a wide-eyed warning look, silently begging him to stop talking.


    But of course, nothing escaped Titus''s sharp gaze. His jaw tightened, the muscles ticking as his piercing eyes darted between me and Kieran, suspicion written all over his face.


    I lowered my head, the sudden intensity at the table almost suffocating. "I have no idea what you re talking about, I said, my voice deliberately calm as I focused on my te, cutting into my food to avoid meeting Titus''s scrutiny.


    Titus''s chair scraped against the floor as he leaned forward, his voice cutting through the air like a de. "What''s going on?" he demanded, the authority in his tone sending a shiver down my spine.


    "Oh, my mistake!" Kieran replied smoothly, his yful smirk widening. "Must''ve been the whiskey. I probably mistook you for someone else. The woman I spoke tost night was... charming, though I doubt she could hold a candle to you, mydy." His tone was light, but the glint in his eyes told me he was enjoying this far too much.


    Titus didn''t look convinced. His gaze lingered on me, sharp and unrelenting. It was as if he were peeling backyers, trying to get to the truth hidden beneath.


    Scott, seated beside me, cleared his throat, sensing the tension reaching a boiling point. "Hunter, keep in line," he said, his tone firm. "We''ve got a mission to n. Save the theatrics forter."


    "Of course, Beta," Kieran replied with mock deference, tipping an imaginary hat in Scott''s direction before turning back to his te.


    I stole a nce at Titus, who was still watching me with those searing eyes, and quickly looked away. My heart pounded in my chest, the weight of his suspicion pressing down on me. I needed to tread carefully-one wrong move, and everything could unravel.


    As the rest of the team trickled into the dining area, the conversation turned to the mission ahead. Maps were unfurled, strategies debated, but the tension between Titus and me was palpable, an undercurrent no one dared to address directly.


    "Alright," Kieran said, his tone shifting to business. "We head out at noon. The target location''s about a four-hour trek from here. It''s remote, but I know the terrain."


    "And the risks?" Titus asked, his voice a low growl.


    Kieran shrugged, though the glint in his eyes said he relished the danger. "The usual-hostile forces, traps, and possibly worse. But you knew that when you hired me."


    As the discussion continued, I kept my head down, picking at my food. I could feel the weight of Titus''s gaze on me like a physical thing, hot and unyielding. Every time my eyes darted up, I caught


    his, and the intensity there made my chest tighten.


    After a while, I couldn''t take it anymore. "Excuse me." I mumbled, standing abruptly. I barely heard anyone''s response as I hurried out of the restaurant, needing a moment to clear my head.


    I stepped onto the veranda, needing


    a moment to myself. The cool


    morning air wrapped around me, soothing the storm brewing inside my chest. I gripped the railing, staring out at the horizon as if the answers I sought might be written in the pale light of the rising sun.


    "Sage?" ra''s voice startled me, soft and cautious, like she already knew I was lost in my own head.


    I turned to see her standing in the doorway, framed by the soft light of the morning. A light breeze tugged at the loose strands of her hair as she stepped closer, her face filled with concern and curiosity. "You alright? You look like a mess" she said, raising an eyebrow.


    I forced a small smile, though it felt fragile and fake. "I''m fine. Stop worrying about me," I said, trying to sound convincing.


    ra didn''t believe me for a second.


    She tilted her head slightly, her sharp eyes scanning me like she was piecing together a puzzle. Crossing her arms, she let out a slow breath. "How


    Can I not? Trouble seems to


    follow you around every corner like


    it''s got your name on it."


    I chuckled. "Trouble and I go way back," I said with a forced lightness, trying to brush it off, though my voice didn''t carry the humor I was aiming for.


    ra didn''tugh. She didn''t even smile. Instead, her frown deepened as she took another step closer. "What''s up with you and that hunter?" she asked bluntly, her tone low but sharp.


    I stiffened, my mind racing, but I tried to keep my expression neutral. "What do you mean?" I asked, ying dumb, though I could already tell it wasn''t going to work on her.


    ra''s eyes narrowed further, and


    her voice dropped, firm and


    insistent. "You know exactly what I mean. Don''t y coy with me, Sage. One minute, Kieran''s ying hard to get, refusing to join us, and the next, he''s suddenly on board with our mission? That''s not a coincidence. Did you have something to do about


    it?"


    I swallowed hard, ncing away toward the horizon. "Why would you think that?" I hedged, still hoping to avoid the conversation altogether.


    ra let out a short, humorlessugh, shaking her head. "You''re not as good at dodging questions as you think, Sage. I''ve known you long enough to know when you''re hiding something. So, what is it? What did you say or do to get him to agree?"


    Her words hung heavy in the air, and I could feel her gaze boring into me, waiting for an answer I wasn''t sure I was ready to give.


    "It''s better if you don''t know, ra," I said, trying to stay calm even though my chest felt tight. I couldn''t tell her everything-not yet. "I can''t drag you into this."


    She didn''t take it well. Her brows furrowed, and she gave me a sharp look, like she could see right through me. "By saying that, you''re only confirming that you''re in trouble," she said, her voice full of worry.


    I tried tough, but it came out t. "Just don''t ask, ra," I said quietly, hoping she''d drop it.


    She crossed her arms and sighed, looking frustrated and concerned. "Fine, like you ever listen to me," she muttered, shoulders drooping in defeat.


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