“So you think I care about whatever sappy threat you want to throw at me,” Priyank’s eyebrows winged.
“I don’t think it’s a sappy one. It’s a solid one. You should think about what a human can do when they’re thrown into the wolves and you are at a place where no human other than you exists,” Jackson’s lips tilted in a thin line.
“I know what a human can do. Would you love to hear, Jackson?” Priyank’s expressions turned unhinged.
“Of course, I would love to hear.”
“I can inform the authorities about your ‘no human existing’ place, and then I will see how you all will crawl from your hellhole.”
“Not when you will be dead before that.”
“That’s a delusion. I don’t think you should live in it. As a human, you are no part of my strength, and the wolf you have, it’s crappy to think you should use it on a human. It proves you can’t tackle me in your human form. Can you understand you have old bones?”
Priyank hates when someone tries to intimidate him. That’s why he loves asserting himself off the fence, so no one can think they have the right to walk over him. He loves walking over people, and there won’t be any other around.
“You run your mouth way too much, which makes it look like you are living in some delusion. Is it hard for you to treat Priya with some respect? Even if you don’t have any wolf or mate feelings, you still kidnapped her before, because you fell for her,” Jackson sighed as he saw Priyank wouldn’t shut his mouth.
“He is just a hard nut to crack, for sure. He doesn’t even look scared, even after Jackson tried to give him so many warnings – which is insanely crazy.
“On second thought, I hate to say my feelings for her are not your concern, and I do treat her the way I want, and nothing is stopping me,” Priyank smiled, his lips showing a full, stretched thin line around his smile.
“Can you even talk like a normal person?”
“I did, and you started threatening me, and I don’t take threats normally for your information. I hate them all,” Priyank shrugged his shoulders lazily, sounding innocent, as if he was not the one who was talking with his mouth, so dangerously.
“How about we sit and then have some normal conversation? It feels like this way we will try talking the whole day, but nothing will come out of it,” Jackson suggested, not wanting to have any debate when it seemed so useless.
“I won’t mind,” Priyank continued. “If you don’t behave the way you just did before.”
“Let’s have a civil talk. I won’t provoke you, and I hope the same goes for you,” Jackson mentioned, offering his hand for a handshake.
“Sure,”
As Priyank clasped Jackson’s hand firmly, their gazes locked in a tense standoff that seemed to simmer just beneath the surface. The animosity between them was palpable, yet there was a begrudging respect in their exchanged glances.
“Alright then,” Jackson said, his voice tinged with a hint of scepticism.
Priyank nodded curtly, his jaw clenched. He released Jackson’s hand and took a step back, folding his arms across his chest defensively.
“Good,” Jackson continued, his tone cautious. “Now, about Priya…”
“I don’t want to talk about her,” Priyank interjected sharply, his eyes narrowing. “Not with you.”
Jackson sighed, rubbing the back of his neck wearily. “Fine. We won’t talk about her.”
“Good,” Priyank muttered, his expression softening slightly.
They stood in silence for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. The tension in the air seemed to dissipate slowly, replaced by an uneasy calm.
“I still don’t trust you,” Priyank finally said, breaking the silence. “But I can tolerate you.”
Jackson raised an eyebrow, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “That’s progress, I guess.”
Priyank grunted in response, a noncommittal sound. He glanced around the room, avoiding Jackson’s gaze.
“So,” Jackson began tentatively, “what now?”
Priyank shrugged, his shoulders stiff. “I don’t know. It’s you who wanted to talk, so do it.”
Jackson nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. “Fair enough.”
They lapsed into silence once more, the weight of their uneasy truce settling between them like an unspoken agreement.
Jackson met his gaze evenly, his own eyes narrowing slightly. “And I’m watching you.”
“For what?” Priyank’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
“For Priya’s safety. Even if you don’t want to talk, it’s clear she is our Queen, and you are her mate. That doesn’t mean we will simply accept a human who doesn’t have a good relationship with her. She doesn’t like you.”
“Again with this topic. Even if you think I’m some monster, which I am, I don’t hurt her because I get a kick from it. She just pisses me off. And again, she doesn’t like me, which is something I know too. But you know what,” Priyank mouthed, “I give no fucks about that too.”
Jackson’s brow furrowed, his patience wearing thin. “Priyank, you can’t just dismiss her feelings like that. You’ve got to understand-”
“Why should I care what you think I should understand?” Priyank cut in, his tone sharp and defiant. “You and your wolf nonsense mean nothing to me. I will behave the way I wanted with my girl.”
Jackson exhaled heavily, trying to keep his composure. “Because Priya matters, and your actions affect her. You might not care about her, but we do.”
Priyank rolled his eyes.
Jackson’s jaw tightened, his hands curling into fists at his sides. “You’re making a big mistake, feelings are not like this. It won’t work the right way. She will be off limits to you, if you keep behaving like this.”
Priyank’s lips curled into a sneer. “Off-limits? What are you going to do about it? Send your pack of wolves after me?”
Jackson took a step closer, his voice low and dangerous. “You don’t want to test me, Priyank. You have no idea what I’m capable of.”
Priyank matched his gaze, unflinching. “Try me, Jackson. Just try.”
Jackson felt highly threatened, and Priyank’s behaviour made him feel deeply insulted. As a Beta, he was accustomed to respect, and Priyank’s actions were extremely stressful for him. Even though he tried to talk civilly with Priyank, it was clear that Priyank had no intention of reciprocating.