Duality

Acere was curt and to the point with her, asking after Rhyme and then dismissing the question, like he was disappointed he was left to deal with her. He demanded answers from her, why she was at the market that day. She had entered the bidding for his friend because she had wished to help him, but she hadnt liked the side of him he had revealed. He seemed to do that a lot, so perhaps it shouldn't surprise her anymore.

Too heart sore and tired to start a fight, the soon to retire Alpha instead kept as much of the weariness as she could off her face. It wasnt his business to ask the questions he did, and perhaps she shouldn't answer... but she had always had a soft spot for the white titan before her. Her good sense was often impaired by him. The right thing to do would be to send him away, and acknowledge that the deal he made would lead to them being enemies in the future. Instead, despite herself, she answered him. Perhaps she was a senile old fool.
"I was searching for my daughter, she went missing not long after the fire in the thickets. Rhyme stepped down as Alpha to concentrate on looking for her. That would have been my task, except I must raise the children my sister left behind when she passed." She managed to say the words without choking, if only just. The loss of Vail the last straw that had broken her spirit and left her feeling old, and past her time.
"When next you come here, I might not be the alpha you deal with" she said ominously. Her time was coming, she could feel it, she had lost too much in her long life, she had seen and felt death, and knew that its eyes where upon her.