Fire And Ice

Chapter 87 - Setup

Natalia's P. O. V

They gaped at me for several seconds, frozen in place. Slow realisation bled into Harry's face while Callum's was struck with cautious, unsure recognition.

"Ari..." Harry said, drawing my name out slowly with caution.

I inclined my head and matched his tone with mock exaggeration, "Harry..."

"What are you doing here?" He tried to keep his voice light, but we could all hear the underlying tension.

By now, other members had noticed my sudden presence and were approaching us with confusion and curiosity. I didn't miss the few mesmerised looks my allure garnered, but my attention remained on my uneasy targets before me.

"Oh, I just thought I'd stop by." I waved nonchalantly, like my very presence didn't hold the implications it did.

He took a few steps forward, and Callum remained planted in place, "It isn't very appropriate to just drop by like that. We're allies, you could have placed a visit request."

"Oh, we're allies?" I gave him a puzzled look and got to my feet, "Perhaps it's cause I'm a new Alpha so maybe I just don't know, but you haven't acted like an ally at all."

"I don't think I know what you're talking about." He said in an insufferably placating tone, "We just had two members pay you a visit."

I clasped my hands together, "Oh, yes, the visit. That was a bit of nasty work. I have to say, this pack plays dirty, but then again, I guess you've always been like this. Good thing I dealt with the problem."

At that, cracks in his ruse began to form, "Where are our envoys?" He demanded, his hands in fists and the air tense with his poorly veiled apprehension.

"I don't think I know what you're talking about." I parroted.

"Brittany and James..." He was anxious now, the caution for his sister's sake holding back his obvious desire to resolve the problem before him with violence, "My sister and the Gamma, where are they?"

"I think you're forgetting one person, unless Hannah just wandered all the way to my territory without your knowledge."

The reveal of my knowledge shut him up and eroded what remained of his earlier pretence. His eyes followed me like a hawk, watching my every step as I moved to a table and picked up one of the little knickknacks that decorated the entrance area. I turned the small, chipped ceramic figure over in my hands, ignoring his loaded glares, Callum's ghostly gape, and the curious stares of the gathering members.

"Oh, they're here, by the way." I said lightly, not bothering to look at him, "Just... out of commission for the time being."

"What did you do?" His voice was low with threats.

This time I looked at him and smiled, "Nothing they didn't deserve."

His temper beat out his caution, and he rushed at me. The next instant stretched out to an eternity. He charged at me, face twisted in fury and claws outstretched in a half-shift. Callum snapped out of his daze, springing into action to catch Harry's arm. All the while, the thrumming heat under my skin rose to an inferno and pooled under my palms, one hand reflexively raised to hurt him before he could me.

Callum stopped Harry before he could reach me, managing to hold him back with a strength he shouldn't have had, "Don't touch her!"

Harry whipped around, still full of violence, "I swear to Luna, Callum! What the fuck is wrong with you? You'd better have a fucking good reason for this!"

Callum didn't pay him any mind, and instead looked at me with eyes brimmed with tears, "You didn't die..."

I lowered my hands and stood upright, giving him a sour look to match the sneer of my voice, "Way to jump the gun, Callum."