Chapter 2 An Unexpected Encounter

ADRAIN PIERCE

The moment I stepped inside Belda's Home, eyes followed me.

The establishment was exactly as the reviews had described-warm lighting, polished wooden tables, quiet music, and an atmosphere that managed to feel both elegant and comfortable.

It wasn't the kind of establishment I frequented.

But Lord Kain of Northvale House, with whom Pierce House had an ongoing trade arrangement, had requested that our meeting be held here.

I preferred the quiet of my private chambers or the grand dining halls reserved for nobles-places where conversations remained discreet and every detail could be arranged according to my preference.

But the matter concerning Northvale was too important to be dismissed simply because of the choice of a supper house.

For months, Pierce House had been negotiating for a vast stretch of land on the eastern edge of the territory. The land was strategically positioned along one of the oldest trade roads, making it valuable for the expansion of our holdings.

Northvale House possessed the rights to it. If I secured them, Pierce House could begin construction of a new commercial quarter-residences for the wealthy, merchant halls, healing houses, and several establishments that would bring considerable wealth to the territory. As I crossed the threshold, conversations gradually faded. That was nothing unusual. My presence often had that effect. Being a Prime Alpha from one of the oldest families came with certain privileges. It also ensured that I was rarely permitted to enter a room unnoticed. I ignored the curious glances and searched the crowded hall for Lord Kain. He was nowhere in sight. My jaw tightened. Just then, something-or rather, someone-caught my attention. A woman stood behind the long wooden counter at the far end of the hall. She was looking directly at me. Our eyes met. For a few seconds, neither of us moved. Then she blinked and lowered her gaze. As though remembering herself, she stepped out from behind the counter and walked towards me.

ISABELLA

Adrian Pierce's arrival had caught me completely off guard.

I had heard his name spoken countless times, but seeing him in person was an entirely different matter.

He was far more imposing than I had imagined. His dark gaze had moved across the dining hall before settling on me.

Just for a few seconds.

But somehow, those few seconds had been enough to make me forget myself.

Isabella, get yourself together. He was a guest.

A very powerful guest, perhaps, but still a guest. I drew a slow breath, straightened my shoulders, and stepped forward.

I crossed the dining hall, weaving between the tables as servants carried platters of food and goblets of wine to waiting patrons.

The closer I came, the more aware I became of his presence.

His aura was difficult to ignore.

I stopped a few steps away from him. "Lord Pierce."

His gaze lifted to mine.

He said nothing, his expression unreadable. "I am Isabella, the owner of Belda's Home."

I offered him a polite smile.

"Welcome to Belda's Home. I hope your journey here was pleasant."

He gave me a curt nod in response, his attention soon returning to the hall.

"Are you waiting for someone?" I asked. His gaze returned to me.

"Lord Kain of Northvale." I nodded politely.

Before I could say anything else, a familiar figure approached from the direction of the inner chambers.

Lord Kain's right-hand man.

He stopped before us and bowed respectfully.

"Lord Pierce. Lord Kain has been expecting you." Adrian gave a slight nod.

The man turned towards the inner corridor. "If you would follow me."

Adrian moved to follow him.

For some reason, I glanced after them.

Our eyes met one last time before he turned away.

I quickly lowered my gaze.

I didn't know why I had looked back.

Perhaps it was simply curiosity.

Or perhaps there was something about Lord Adrian Pierce that made it difficult not to notice him.

I dismissed the thought and returned to my duties.

ADRAIN PIERCE

I followed Lord Kain's right-hand man through the establishment.

The moment I stepped into the quieter corridor leading toward the private chambers, the sounds of the dining hall gradually faded behind me.

Yet my mind remained strangely occupied. With her.

Isabella.

I frowned.

It was absurd.

I had spoken to hundreds of people today-nobles, merchants, advisers, guards.

Why was I thinking about her?

Perhaps it was because something about her had been unusual.

I had sensed the presence of almost every beast in the establishment the moment I entered.

It was instinctive.

A Prime Alpha did not need to consciously search for them.

Yet hers- Nothing.

I had felt no beast from her.

For someone who carried herself as an ordinary Omega, that was strange.

Very strange.

The right-hand man stopped before a set of wooden doors.

"Lord Kain is inside." He opened the door and stepped aside. I entered.

Lord Kain was seated at the far end of the private dining chamber.

His attention immediately shifted towards me. "Lord Pierce."

"Lord Northvale."

We exchanged the customary nod.

He gestured towards the chair opposite him. "Please, sit."

I took my seat.

The matter before us left little room for pleasantries.

Lord Kain reached for the scroll resting beside him.

"I trust you have had time to consider our previous terms." "I have." "And?"

I placed my own scroll on the table.

"I am prepared to make a revised offer." His brows lifted slightly.

"Then perhaps we can finally put this matter to rest."

A faint smile touched his lips. "I certainly hope so."

The negotiation began.

We discussed the price of the land, the rights to the eastern trade road, construction boundaries, and the portion of revenue Northvale House would receive once the new commercial quarter was established.

Neither of us was willing to give ground easily. But after several rounds of discussion, we began to reach terms acceptable to both houses.

Still, despite my attention being on the negotiation, my thoughts occasionally drifted back to the woman in the dining hall.

Isabella.

I couldn't understand why.

There was nothing remarkable about our brief exchange.

Yet there had been something about her. Something I couldn't identify.

And most of all, I could not understand why I could not sense her beast.