Galen stifled a snort behind the folders, but Kavish didn't crack a smile.
"This isn't a joke," Kavish said mildly, eyes narrowing just a fraction. "Nesrin might be acting tame, but I want someone around her who listens first, then shoots later."
Galen raised a brow. "And Kamil's the best at that?"
"He's the best at protecting what he's been told to protect. No questions asked."
Besides, Kavish thought to himself, Nesrin wasn't the kind of woman who would be fooled by a brute.
She needed someone soft-spoken. Respectful. Loyal to a fault. The kind of man she wouldn't immediately hate just for being near.
And Kamil, for all his blind spots, was loyal.
Galen gave a slow, accepting nod. "Alright then. I'll have him stationed near her. Anything else?"
Kavish looked out the window at the frost-coated trees, fingers tapping against the polished wooden rail. "Yeah. Tell him not to engage unless absolutely necessary. She's not a threat… unless you give her a reason to be."
Galen tilted his head. "You sound like you admire her."
"I admire sharp things," Kavish said quietly, "especially the kind that haven't gone dull despite everything trying to blunt them."
---
Downstairs, Nesrin sat at the long dining table, fingers curled loosely around a warm cup of ginger tea.
Mira had done exactly as instructed, warm broth, seasoned eggs, rice porridge with pickled vegetables.
The kind of meal meant to settle a frayed body, and maybe, just maybe, soothe a bruised heart.
Nesrin didn't trust it.
The room was too warm. The food was too good. The tea smelled like comfort. And the silence, real silence, not the kind you find after screams, made her uneasy.
She couldn't shake the thought: when would the price come due?
It always did.
"Will Kavish join me for breakfast?" she asked, for her to charm she must maintain close contact with him.
"I have no idea miss, the master usually doesn't have breakfast. He's always up and about preparing for work."
Nesrin sighed, just her luck..her plan to charm him this morning would be place on hold.
She quickly finished her meal and got up, she wondered if Kavish had a thing for women in dresses.
Today she had been given a dark emerald, low slit gown to wear, it accentuated all her curves in all the right places.
She saw Gaven coming from the entrance, with a slightly taller man.
Glancing up to see a tall man with jet-black hair pulled into a low tie. Olive-toned skin, wide shoulders, striking green eyes. His posture was alert, respectful. No scent of arrogance. She could tell he was one of Kavish's subordinates.
"Kamil," he introduced himself with a small nod. "Alpha Kavish assigned me as your personal guard."
Her brows lifted slightly. Personal guard?
"I don't need a babysitter," she said plainly, not missing a beat.
Kamil didn't flinch. "I wasn't told to babysit. Just to watch your back."
That gave her pause. She set her tea down and studied him more carefully.
"You don't strike me as the obedient dog type," she said.
Kamil gave the smallest hint of a smile. "I'm not. I just trust the man giving orders."
Interesting.
She liked that answer more than she expected to.
Then sit.." she said, gesturing to the opposite chair. "No one likes a guard who just stands around pretending to be a shadow."
Kamil hesitated for only a moment before settling down.
"What's the catch with you people?" she asked, half to herself. "You feed me, guard me, let me sleep in warm beds. I thought Trevance wolves were supposed to be cruel."
Kamil tilted his head. "Oh we are. Boss is undeniably cruel, to our enemies or anyone who offends him. But you are his woman, so of course your treatment will be different."
Upstairs, Kavish changed into a charcoal suit, black shirt underneath, the cut sharp enough to slice through most boardrooms. As he buttoned his cuffs, he stared at himself in the mirror.
She wasn't what he expected. Not fragile. Not hysterical. No desperation in her gaze, no pleading in her tone.
Instead, there was something quiet and lethal curled under her skin, like a blade tucked behind silk.
He respected it.
But he didn't trust it. Not fully.
When he finally entered the dining hall, they were already done talking. Kamil sat a few seats away, sipping his tea and enjoying his breakfast leisurely.
"You seem to be enjoying yourself Kamil? I'm happy for you."
Kamil straightened when he heard Kavish's voice.
"Good morning Sir. The food is quite delicious..."
Kavish nodded as he handed his briefcase to Gaven.
"I trust you're well acquainted to Nesrin now?"
Kamil nodded with a smile "I will protect her with my life."
Kavish nodded and turned to Nesrin.
"I asked someone to look into your pack."
She went still. Carefully, still and then a smile appeared on her face.
"And?"
"They've tightened their borders. No trading, no communication outside. Apparently, the Alpha—your father—is claiming your disappearance was due to rogue interference."
Nesrin scoffed under her breath. "How typical, he'd sell my sister off if she wasnt useful to him."
"And your sister is now officially betrothed to your mate."
There it was, the flicker in her eyes.
It wasn't pain. Just cold, burning fury.
"They deserve each other.." she said coolly. "Rotten attracts rotten."
Kavish watched her, watched the way her nails dug slightly into the porcelain cup. She didn't cry. Didn't flinch. She just stored the information away like ammunition.
"You planning to go back?" he asked casually.
-_-
"Oh, I'm planning but it definitely going to be one hell of a family reunion..." she grinned darkly, one that sent shivers down the men's spine.
Standing up, she placed the teacup down and heading to where Kavish was. She hooked her arms around his and gave him a smile.
"When are you coming back? You skipped breakfast with me so you can't skip dinner..."
Kavish smiled and nodded "You be good and don't leave the estate. I'll be back before dinner..."
Nesrin nodded and tip-toed to give him a kiss on the lips. "Good luck kiss to start your day..."
Gaven lips twitched, he guessed Kavish had really found his match.