BEASTLY ALLURE

●Hierarchy.

Qingqing?" Her name slipped from my lips  before I could stop myself.

"Isn't that my brother's mate's name?" Harper's voice cut through my thoughts.

Huh.

I turned to him, still trying to process.

What on earth is she doing here alone? If she's here, Parker must be lurking somewhere, and that means Caulis is probably around too.

Why can't I catch a break without bumping into these people?

And Winston isn't here either.

"Aurelia?" Harper shook my little finger, the one he was holding. But his eyes were fixed elsewhere. "Was that her?" He pointed dramatically in Bai's direction, like he was in a soap opera.

I didn't answer immediately, too busy plotting my escape if things went south.

"Aurelia, what happened? Is it her?" Harper's questions were relentless.

"Yeah, it's her," I finally admitted, putting an end to his interrogation.

"Great, just what I needed," I heard him mumble as he began climbing the stairs back to our previous spot.

"Hey, hey, where are you off to?" I quickly snagged his hand. "This way, buddy." I pointed towards Ape's Head, looming in the distance.

"Yeah, but I want to meet my brother's mate," he said, stubbornly continuing on. "I need to know why my brother is hiding her from us!"

He turned back towards Bai, a sinister smirk spreading across his face.

Oh, fantastic! Now it feels like I'm witnessing an evil twin plot to sabotage his good twin's love life.

Hold on, brain. Let's not forget, Parker isn't exactly Prince Charming either.

"You're not seriously leaving me alone after seeing her, are you?” I called after him, throwing my best drama queen pout.

He froze in his tracks for a whole second, then took a step down towards me. "You females... you just looked like my mother with that mouth thing," he remarked, his gaze fixated on my lips, and for some reason, his fingers gravitating toward them.

I caught his fingers. "What?"

"Whatever you're doing with your mouth right now... she does that with my father when she wants things her way,”he explained, his eyes still fixed on my lips like they were plotting world domination.

Ohhhhh, splendid!

"Does that  actually work on you, then?" I asked with mock innocence, hoping I wasn't about to trigger a full-blown existential crisis.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and muttered my name, as if seeking divine intervention.

Well, well, well, looks like the charm offensive is a-go! I definitely don't want to brave this godforsaken Ape's castle alone.

Harper might just make for entertaining company.

... Aurelia!" He opened his eyes half dazedly.

And just like that, I transformed back into the picture of innocence, gazing at him with wide-eyed wonder. "Hmm?”

"I'm afraid your little trick worked! But now, I find Parker's mate far more intriguing," he confessed, edging closer to me, his breath warming my face as a mischievous grin spread across his features.

This sneaky bastard. He's definitely playing games with me. Well, two can play at that game.I'm the coach here.

I shot him a fierce glare, but he just looked back at me with an amused expression, his mouth opening to speak. "My dear Aurelia, I'll fetch whatever you need in a moment, but just this once, I really want to get a good look at that female!"