ASTRID POV
By evening, it was a big tick for me.
A job well done.
Karl was hooked.
He left my room earlier looking like a wolf caught in a dream — distracted, hopeful, and just confused enough to be dangerous in all the right ways. I could practically see the thoughts spinning in his head, trying to convince him that whatever this was between us had started naturally.
Perfect.
At dinner, the proof came sooner than expected.
Normally, the Alpha Kings ate together downstairs — some old tradition about unity and leadership or whatever nonsense they believed in. But tonight Karl didn't go.
Instead, he used some excuse I couldn't quite hear from my room, then came back upstairs carrying a tray loaded with food.
Mine and his.
I almost laughed.
That was fast.
He knocked lightly before entering, like he suddenly remembered manners.
"Brought dinner," he said casually, though his voice carried that careful tone people used when they didn't want to seem eager.
Too late for that.
