#Chapter 13: Negotiation

DEREK The child barely came up to my waist, his wild curls bouncing as he tilted his head up at me. His amber eyes sparkled with mischief as he studied me. He didn’t look afraid—if anything, he was curious. “I’ve never seen you before,” he said, matter-of-factly. I smirked. “Maybe because I haven’t been here before.” He nodded as if that answer satisfied him. He had a strong aura—rare for a child his age—and I knew I was looking at a future Alpha. For reasons I couldn’t explain, a strange warmth spread through my chest. “You seem to be in a bit of a hurry,” I pointed out. He grinned, completely unfazed. “Not really. Just finished something important.” I crouched down to his level, intrigued. “Yeah? What was so important?” He looked around conspiratorially—his eyes landing on Joe and my men a little warily—and then leaned in toward me, whispering, “I pulled off a prank. A good one.” “How good?” “There’s flour all over the kitchen,” he said, his gap-toothed rap