Hunted by the Alpha’s Bargain

Sitting across from my father, Alpha Burns, Daniel seems completely different from how I remembered him. His expression is distant, as if he’s wearing a mask of indifference. It's almost like he's living a double life. I can't help but think back to yesterday with a pang of irony.

Just yesterday, I had celebrated Daniel's birthday. I'd spent numerous evenings perfecting the art of baking a spiced honey cake, making mistakes and starting over countless times. Finally, braving the biting cold, I rushed to Daniel's dorm with the cake I was most proud of.

I waited for two hours until he finally arrived, just finishing up his pack duties. Under the streetlamp, he hurried toward me and stopped right before me, taking a moment to catch his breath before speaking.

"What are you doing waiting out here in the cold, Gamma Burns?" he asked, his voice respectful but laced with concern. He warmed my hands with his as he glanced at what I was holding. "What's this?"

I felt a bit embarrassed. "It's... a cake I made."

Daniel was visibly surprised. "You made it yourself?"

The cake was a little lopsided, and the frosting was starting to melt from the long wait, but the strawberries arranged in a heart shape were still vibrant. "Yes." I was so nervous my palms were sweaty.

Then Daniel's warm hands gently cupped my cold face. He held my face as if it were something precious, making me look up at him. "Thank you, Gamma Burns."

My face flushed hot, and my nervousness made me stutter. "Dan... Daniel, hap... happy bi... birthday."

Daniel chuckled, without a hint of sarcasm or mockery in his laugh. His voice was incredibly gentle. "It's okay, take your time, Gamma Burns. Want to say it again?"

I hesitated, but he encouraged me, "I'd love to hear it. Could you say it for me once more?"

His gaze was intense, and beneath the streetlamp, he seemed to almost glow. I took a deep breath and, under his attentive gaze, finally managed to express my birthday wishes.

"Daniel, happy birthday. I hope you'll always be happy and joyous in the future."

Daniel looked down at me, the streetlamp casting a fan-shaped shadow on his eyelashes, making it impossible to read his eyes. In the next moment, I was pulled into a warm embrace, his heartbeat uncharacteristically rapid.

"Thank you, Gamma Burns." His voice was strangely hoarse, gently wiping my tears away. "Why are you crying?"

Only then did I realize I was crying. He softly kissed away my tears, but just before our lips could touch, he subtly turned his head.

He'd done this many times, and I'd always thought it was out of respect for me. Now I understand.

A hunter never kisses the prey.

He never loved me; he was just a convincing actor. "Love"—sometimes, it’s nothing more than a performance.