Page 12 of Snarl First, Kiss Later (Alpha’s Prophecy #2)

TWELVE

SILAS

S ilas stood at the threshold of the Court’s council chamber, jaw locked and fingers curled into fists behind his back.

The place looked nothing like the war rooms he’d once known.

No animal pelts, no scent of blood clinging to the stone.

Just wide windows casting pale morning light across polished concrete floors, maps layered with glowing data screens, and a few sleek desks flanked by soldiers in modern gear.

This was a different kind of kingdom now—built by Landon Graves, not some old bloodline clinging to faded glory.

And Landon himself? He looked the same. Auburn hair still messy, hazel eyes calm but sharp, that casual, unassuming presence that made others underestimate him until it was too late.

But he hadn’t smiled when they entered. His eyes had tracked Ava longer than they had Silas.

Measured her. Assessed her. Then he’d flicked a glance at Sonya, and just like that, Ava had been whisked away to get “cleaned up,” which Silas knew damn well was code for “keep her out of the way while we figure out what to do with you.”

Now it was just the two of them.

“You don’t look half-dead anymore,” Landon said without preamble, arms crossed. “That’s something.”

“Credit the human,” Silas replied. “She’s been patching me up. I was done bleeding on her floor.”

Landon’s brow ticked. “That’s a start. Doesn’t mean I forgot what you walked away from.”

Silas didn’t flinch. “Didn’t ask you to.”

Landon stepped forward, voice even. “You left court when we needed stability. You vanished. No word. No explanation.”

“I wasn’t built for politics,” Silas said flatly. “You know that.”

“You were built for loyalty,” Landon countered. “And strategy. And keeping your goddamn pack together when things got hard.”

“I served a tyrant before you. I watched good people die under orders I followed.” His voice didn’t rise, but every syllable came sharp. “You were different. That’s why I helped end Roman’s reign. But I couldn’t be part of what came next.”

Landon studied him, quiet. Then, finally, “And now?”

“Now I know what’s still out there,” Silas said. “Gideon’s Torch. The Silent Sons. They’re not just taking potshots at patrols. They’re hunting your heir.”

Landon’s mouth flattened. “You’re sure?”

“They attacked Ava. Left a mark meant to be seen. They think she’s connected to you since she was helping me. They think if they can’t get to you, they can get to what comes next.”

Silas watched the weight settle on Landon’s shoulders like a stone slab.

After a moment, Landon nodded. “You should’ve come back sooner.”

“Didn’t think I’d be welcome.”

“You’re not,” Landon said, voice like a blade. “But you’re needed.”

Silas exhaled slowly.

Landon gestured toward the far end of the room. “There’s a training pit behind the east wing. You’ve been out of court rhythm long enough. Let’s see if your instincts still work.”

Silas gave a dry chuckle. “Trying to beat answers out of me?”

“No,” Landon said with a smirk. “Trying to see if you’re still worth trusting.”

The training pit wasn’t some ancient arena—just a sunken stretch of reinforced matting inside a converted gym space. Weapons lined the walls. Staff, blades, batons, training gloves. A few others watched from the perimeter as Landon and Silas squared off, neither bothering with shirts.

Silas saw their eyes flick over the scar down his back. Some of them knew. Some only guessed.

Didn’t matter.

Landon circled him. “You always led with your left.”

“I’m not here to spar,” Silas muttered.

“No,” Landon said, throwing a feint jab. “You’re here to earn your place again.”

They clashed fast—Landon quicker than Silas remembered, fists tight and controlled. Silas blocked, ducked, swept his leg. Landon rolled clear. They moved like wolves circling, not killing.

After a while, the edge dulled. Landon straightened, breathing hard.

“You’ve still got it. And I know guilt when I smell it.”

Silas picked up his shirt. “You ever stop lecturing?”

“Not when it’s working.”

They left the pit and walked the back hall in silence. The ache in Silas’s limbs was good. Familiar. But the ache in his chest, he didn’t have a name for.

He found Ava in the commons, sitting on a cushioned bench and arguing with Sonya about something—probably decor, from the way Ava was pointing to a modern sculpture like it had personally offended her.

He hesitated.

Landon came to a stop beside him. “She’s got fire.”

“She’s got a death wish following me here.”

“She’s got eyes that track your every move,” Landon said.

“So maybe don’t screw this up just because you think you should.

” Landon clapped him on the shoulder and beckoned him away.

“Now, come tell me what it is you found out about the Silent Sons and my heir and why your human should remain here with us.”

Later, after most of court had settled into evening calm and the halls echoed with low voices and distant footsteps, Silas found her alone on a terrace just outside the west corridor. The moon hung low over the tree line, painting silver across the forest.

Ava didn’t look at him when he stepped beside her.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Do I look okay?”

“You look like someone trying not to punch a prince.”

She huffed. “You all stare like I’m gonna sprout fangs.”

“Some of them think humans can’t handle court.”

“And you?” she asked.

“I think you’ve handled worse.”

She shifted slightly, arms folded. Her jacket hung open now, and the moon caught her scar just right.

“You gonna tell me what they said?” she asked.

“Landon’s letting me stay. For now.”

“And me?”

“Still a maybe.”

She nodded. “Guess that’s better than ‘get lost.’”

“You should’ve stayed out there,” Silas said suddenly. “After the healer. You would’ve been safer.”

Ava turned to him. “I didn’t come for safety.”

“Then you’re dumber than I thought.”

“And you’re still an ass.”

“There’s something else. Caz mentioned it to me when he met up with us, but I needed confirmation first. That PEACE convoy…

There were no survivors. Not anymore.” A part of him thought that would be enough to send her packing.

The other part of him, the wolf, hoped it made her want to stay even more.

“She took a breath, but didn’t look surprised. “I assumed as much once we lost the trail. After they got intel, there would be no reason to keep them alive.”

They stared at each other. The tension between them wasn’t angry anymore. It wasn’t even wary. It was tight, hot, and heavy.

He took a breath, words heavy on his tongue, then thought better of it.

Ava turned slightly, her voice quieter now. “If you’re about to say something soft, don’t.”

He held her gaze a moment longer, then gave a stiff nod. “Wasn’t.”

“Good.”