Chapter 184 One Word and He Folds

Alpha Killian walked into the Wood family clinic at exactly two in the afternoon.

The back room was warm and crowded. A stockpot simmered on a portable burner near the open door, sending steam toward the ceiling. The room smelled like chicken broth, rosemary, and something sweet baking in the kitchen.

Through the haze, Alpha Killian spotted Eira.

Her sea-gold hair was twisted up with a tortoiseshell claw clip. She was carrying a basket filled with fresh herbs, bread rolls, and small jars of honey, looking for somewhere to put it down on the old farmhouse table.

Alpha Killian’s pulse hit hard.

Eira looked up as if she could feel his stare through the steam.

Their eyes met.

"Barry," she said quietly. "Alpha Killian’s here."

Barry turned.

Alpha Killian stood in the doorway.First came the long legs. Then the black shirt, the broad shoulders, and the face that made half the city forget what they had been saying.

His silver-gray eyes locked on Eira.Then they moved to Finn , sitting beside her.

The warmth disappeared from Alpha Killian’s gaze.His wolf had spotted another male inside his territory.

Finn felt the pressure hit him before Alpha Killian said a word. It pushed against his chest, heavy and cold. His wolf lowered its head on instinct.

Finn kept his face still. Just barely.

"Finn." Alpha Killian’s voice was quiet."Move."

One word.It sounded polite if you did not know him.

Barry knew better. Alpha Killian was giving Finn a chance to move before he stopped asking.

Finn’s fingers tightened around his spoon.He almost stood.

Then he remembered that Eira was single now.She was fair game.

And he had been sitting there first.

"There’s an empty seat by the window," Finn said. He nodded toward the wooden bench across the table. "That one’s yours."

The room went quiet.

The old rule was simple. Whoever arrived last took the open seat.

But Alpha Killian had never cared much for other people’s rules. Not many people in the city had the nerve to remind him of one.

Fiona had spent years talking trash about Alpha Killian behind his back. She had even encouraged Finn to go after Eira.

Face-to-face, though, she would not have dared say a word.

She shot Barry a look, silently telling him to do something.

Barry pretended not to notice.

The silence stretched.

Eira finally set the basket on the table and stood.She crossed to the window bench, picked up the bowl in front of her, and moved it aside. Then she nodded to the seat beside her.

"You can sit here, Alpha Killian."

Alpha Killian’s expression went flat.

Finn felt the weight of those silver eyes settle on him again.

For one second, he thought Alpha Killian might ignore Eira and make him move anyway.

Then Alpha Killian turned and sat down beside her.

Close enough that their shoulders almost touched.

He leaned back against the wall and looked at her."Alpha Killian?"

Eira pressed her lips together. Right. She kept forgetting.

"Would you like some rosemary chicken soup?" she asked.

She pushed her untouched bowl toward him.

Then, after the briefest pause, she added, "Killian."

The cold around him disappeared.

Alpha Killian picked up the spoon, tasted the broth, and nodded once."Not bad."

Barry’s gaze darted between Alpha Killian and Eira. That’s it? One bowl of soup and this man was placated?

Across the table, Fiona’s jaw dropped.This was the same Alpha who could make grown wolves apologize for breathing too loudly?

Finn’s expression fell.

"Everybody get some broth in you before we add the meat and greens," Mrs. Wood called from beside the stockpot. "Once everything’s in, it won’t taste half as good."

"You’re just sitting down to eat now?" Alpha Killian asked.

Eira reached for the ladle, but Alpha Killian got there first. He took her bowl and spoon, filled the bowl, then glanced at her as if waiting for an explanation.

"The broth’s been simmering for over two hours," she said. "Mrs. Wood says it helps keep you warm through the winter. Good for your energy, too."

[Good for your energy?Then Eira should be having more of it.]

Alpha Killian filled her bowl to the brim, then served himself.

Once everyone started eating, Finn slipped right back into charming golden-boy mode.

"What are you in the mood for?" he asked Eira. "I can make it for you."

Before she could answer, Alpha Killian cut in.

"Aren’t you supposed to be learning the ropes at Hale Group, Finn? Seems a little early to be skipping out for lunch."

"You’re here too, Alpha Killian."

"I took over the Sterling Pack and the company when I was twenty."

Alpha Killian took another spoonful of broth.

"You’re twenty-three and still in training."

Finn froze.

It was just a fact.So why did it land like a punch to the ribs?

Fiona jumped in before he could respond.

"Finn joining the company at twenty-three is still pretty impressive."

"Compared to you?" Alpha Killian said. "Sure."

Fiona’s mouth snapped shut.

Barry dragged a hand down his face.

Every single one of them was lining up to take a swing at the Alpha.

They could learn something from Eira and keep their mouths shut long enough to eat.

Eira, at least, was doing exactly that.

Ever since Mrs. Jones had started cooking those herbal dishes back at the estate, Eira had developed a serious weakness for them.

The winter lamb stew was especially good. The heat had already reached the soles of her feet, and a few more bites sent warmth spreading through her chest and limbs.

She looked up and caught Alpha Killian watching her."Aren’t you going to eat?"

"I am." His gaze dropped to her bowl. "What do you want?"

It was the exact same question Finn had asked her.

Eira could have reached across the table and served herself. But Alpha Killian, stubborn as ever, clearly wanted her to tell him what she wanted.

She gave him a puzzled look, then named three of the greens spread across the table."Dandelion greens. Chickweed. And nettles."

Alpha Killian stared at her.He had never heard of any of them.

Finn spotted his opening.He looked over the food. Mushrooms and baby cabbage—those he recognized. But dandelion greens? Chickweed? Nettles?

His hand stopped halfway to the serving bowl.

Alpha Killian noticed."Tch."

Finn slowly lowered his hand.

Alpha Killian turned back to Eira."Eat the meat."

It was lamb stew. Meat was practically the whole point.

But Eira had already had enough. She wanted the greens.

Every one of those plants had been used as an old Pack remedy. She had grown up eating them at the Omega home, long before she knew they were supposed to taste medicinal.

Barry watched the two men eyeing one another across the table.Then he cleared his throat and gave a pointed glance toward the bowl of greens.

Alpha Killian and Finn reached for it at the same time.Each grabbed one side of the serving bowl.

Finn refused to let go.

Alpha Killian never let go of anything he wanted. Nobody took something out of his hands.

The tension snapped tight.

Then a pair of wooden serving tongs slid between them, scooped up a generous handful of greens, and dropped them straight into Eira’s bowl.

Everyone looked over.

Eira had taken the tongs herself.She calmly added another handful to her bowl.

"Problem solved," she said.