Soren turned around and faced him, looking into Zale's eyes, which were waiting for an answer he didn't have.
Soren knew better than anyone that Mr. Shilister never helped anyone without gaining something in return.
"They're still scared of Master Shilister, and after hearing their story, I couldn't bring myself to tell them they're being manipulated again and kill their last hope," Soren let out, and Zale rolled his eyes.
"Don't you think it'll crush their hope more brutally when they find out the truth later and have to bear the consequences?" Zale asked.
Soren knew Zale was right but felt helpless; the situation was beyond his control when it involved Mr. Shilister. He realized he wasn't in any position to go against his words.
Zale hated more than anything when Soren blindly followed every command from his father, regardless of right or wrong.
"You know, Soren, you don't have to follow his every order so blindly," Zale said, looking away as soon as Soren's gaze fell on him.
Soren felt a tinge and inhaled when he heard his name trip off Zale's lips. It was rare for Soren to hear his name from Zale.
"I don't follow them blindly, but I must accomplish whatever he asks to keep me and Uncle Stephen in this pack."
Zale seemed quite disappointed, it wasn't the answer he wanted to hear.
"What, do you want me to go against his order? So that he can kick me and Uncle Stephen out of this pack? Will you be able to stay serene without my scent?" Soren asked, ever so slowly trudging towards him.
Zale stared at his amused face and rolled his eyes.
"I didn't mean for you to leave. I'm just saying be a little yourself and do things how you like them, not how you're told," Zale tried to make him understand.
This was a debate they had many times, never reaching a conclusion.
"But don't you appreciate me more when I do as you want every time?" Soren settled his feet in front of him. If not looking closely, no one could tell the difference in their heights; it was almost imperceptible.
"Don't try to get on my nerves. You know exactly what I'm aiming at," Zale spat the words at his face, but Soren wasn't fazed. The tiger seemed to enjoy his frustration. Soren now used this as a coping mechanism to deal with Zale's outrage, bullying him when he was sane because that's what Zale did to him and his neck when he lost his senses.
"But that'd mean me quitting and leaving you, and you torturing yourself and everyone around you."
Zale glared at his conspicuous smirk, hating when Soren sometimes took pleasure in his suffering.
"If you think I'll let you leave this place, think again and tougher this time. For leaving this place, you'll have to fight me and not my father.
"Who said I wanted to leave this house? I don't hate my job," Soren said amusingly, daring to tease Zale's rage.
"Where did you get the audacity to tease me?" Zale growled furiously. Soren tried his best to restrain himself from laughing. Determined to push the limits, he gently leaned towards Zale with silly evilness on his face.
Zale suddenly didn't understand what was happening or why the heating warmth was coming in his direction.
FUCKING STOP, OR I MIGHT PUNCH YOU, Zale swore to himself. Just when their faces were inches away, the door sprinted open, making Soren stumble on his feet and Zale steady him.
Soren stepped aside, and Zale freed him. He picked up a file from the table behind Zale and turned back to the door, only to find Solace there.
"Zale is here too. I thought you'd lock yourself in your room as soon as your meeting ended," Solace said, walking into the room.
Soren avoided Zale's eyes, but he could vaguely hear his fast heartbeats. Zale also wasn't ready to face him right now for some reason.
"Didn't I tell you to stay in my room?" Soren asked, clearing his throat while his face was red.
"I was waiting patiently, but you didn't come. Then my patience ran out." Solace eyed the lingering awkward atmosphere but didn't dwell on it.
"Let's go," Soren said, but stopped when Zale called out to him.
"I have something to talk to you about."
Soren looked at Zale's serious and slightly nervous features.
"Me too," Soren let out.
"Then after dinner," Zale agreed, and Soren consented.
--------------
Silver Night Pack~~
"It's almost the entire day, and you good-for-nothings came back empty-handed."
The angry wolf shrieked his frustration at his beta, who had failed to bring back the two most precious shifters of his pack. He picked up a glass table and hurled it at his beta. Trails of blood followed their way down from his beta's arms and cheeks to his neck, but he remained still without complaining.
"We tailed them, but their scent disappeared near the Nightfall pack."
The alpha roared, "I don't want to hear your excuses. I shouldn't have allowed him to meet with Leo. That fucking fox must have convinced him to run away. Elinor doesn't have the guts to go against me," he said, looking at his beta, drenched in blood.
"Find them, do everything you can, kill anyone you want, but bring them to me, dead or alive. But don't touch a single hair on Elinor. I don't want his pretty little body with any defectiveness."
"Will do," the beta obeyed. "If it's alright, could I say something?"
"What?"
"We lost track of them in front of the Nightfall pack. What if they went there? That's why we couldn't find them till now," the beta suggested.
The alpha paced around like a madman, losing his sanity with every second.
"No, Shilister is a demon in disguise. He will never help anyone, even if they are dying, unless it profits him. But just in case you're right, it's time for me to pay a visit to my old friend."