h4Chapter 321: A Detailed Pretense/h4

He was waiting for them at the office? Since when did a small pack’s alpha start to have such an attitude? Should he not be the one greeting them? Killian felt his lips twitch at the audacity of the man.

He followed Drakon past the corridors, and his gaze fell on the multiple photographs that were lined on the tall pastel blue wall. From the smiling pack members in graduation gowns to wedding attire, every single picture was carefully selected and ced on top of the wall. Killian could see in one nce that, more than the pack bond, Edward was more inclined to emphasise the human achievements of the pack.

iMaybe he wants to prove to the humans that they are as normal as the arem,/i his beast mused within his head.

And that impressed and worried Killian. Edward seemed way too perfect while pretending to be something that he wasn’t. A man like him...could he be even trusted? No wonder Seth was suspicious about this pack. It was an anomaly to begin with, after all, not many would dare to skirt around the line that existed between councilw and rebellious rejection.

iMaybe you are thinking too much, /iFinn’s voice echoed through the pack link. iMaybe this is how these small packs survive. We have never been close to one before, have we? Who knows, maybe this kind of lifestyle is moremon than you think? /i

iPerhaps./i

Drakon led them to the office at the western wing of the mansion, as he opened the double wooden doors, a man with greying hair and a weathered face turned to look at them. Killian nced at the man and sniffed the scent inside the room. He was an alpha, alright. But his alpha vibes were way too weak. No wonder he was hiding among humans; this man was not fit to lead a pack.

"Alpha Sokolov," The man stood up from the leather chair. He walked around the curved table and stretched his hand out. "I am Edward Dawson, Alpha of the Silver Dawn Pack. We are d to have you here." Though he said that, the fear that was oozing through his skin told him a different story.

iHe smells rotten. /iHis beast sniffed in distaste, and Killian frowned. However, he didn’t take it seriously, for the man smelled sour and his beast had never been a fan of sour smells.

Killian tilted his head to one side. "Alpha Dawson."

Drakon stepped forward and then went to stand behind his alpha, dropping the role of their guide and guard.

"Please sit down." Edward gestured at the leather couch that was sitting in the corner of the room. "Make yourselffortable, the banquet is yet to start."

Killian, however, didn’t follow hismand. Instead, he walked around the office, taking in the details of the room. Just like the entire city, this ce waspletely devoid of any signs or traces that would prove that the man in front of him was a predator. Arge t screen dominated the wall, right above the unlit electric fire. All sorts of human art pieces were hanging on the walls at perfect angles and precise angles. A single gramophone sat as a decoration on a small table next to the leather armchairs.

"Your territory... is not what I was expecting."

Edward’s smile turned strained. "We have indeed worked hard to integrate within the human settlement as closely as possible."

"Well, you certainly did a grand job on that," stated Killian with a hint of a smile on his face, which eased the nervousness in the room. But only for a few seconds. He turned to look at the photo where Edward was handing out a five million cheque to the head of an old-age home. "And you are quite charitable."

The shift in his scent was really subtle, but Killian noticed it right away. "Well, being charitable and phnthropic does help out a little. The humans treat us with respect and with constant charity; even the Zealots stay away from us, or else they woulde sniffing around. So, it’s much easier to spend some money and send the trouble away."

"Easier... and expensive," Killian pointed out. He turned to look at the man behind him with a smile on his lips that didn’t reach his eyes. "Really expensive. Do you think it’s worth spending so much money just for the sake of avoiding trouble?"

His scent shifted once again, and this time around, the anxiety was so palpable that even Finn turned and nced at the man with a hint of confusion in his eyes. "Our pack has worked hard towards the path of prosperity."

"How does a pack of only eighty-something families manage expenses as high as this?" Killian asked. His tone was straightforward and stern, making it clear that he wanted nothing but a straight answer without dancing around the bushes. "I looked around your pack, and I have to say that even my pack will fail in contrast to the wealth that you have."

Edward shifted on his feet. He sped his hands behind his. "Our strategy to integrate with the humans has worked better than we expected. Not to forget that these donations and charities help us reduce a considerable amount of taxes. What’s more, the mayor of the city is one of my enforcers, which means that I can easily shift a little money around when the humans pay the pack taxes. It’s not easy, but it can be done as long as the hole is not too big for us to fill."

"And our enforcers who work in the humanpanies also help in contributing to the wealth of the pack." Drakon chimed from behind his alpha. "Shifters age differently whenpared to humans; thus, our enforcers and pack members are much more skilled than humans, making it easier for them to get high-paying jobs. With them taking care of the pack, it’s not difficult for us to handle the expenses thate with the integration of the pack with the humans."