She knew next to nothing about Anastasia and while on the one hand, she knew she could always use more friends and allies, and certainly a friend of Alexander's could be strong as a friend of hers but she wouldn't go into it lightly or blindly. She wasn't that same naive little fox anymore that ran from her problems. She wouldn't pretend there was no tension between them, no questions of where they stood with each other. She didn't trust Anastasia and until those questions were answers, she never would. So why hide behind silver tongues of half truths and try to act civilized? She was raised pretty much as a savage anyway so no use changing her stripes now. She knew that acting so abruptly could damage any chance she might have at friendship with Anastasia but she knew she couldn't handle this circling around each other like sharks around blood anymore. She wouldn't be the bait that gets eaten alive when it least expects it and nor would she try to play the shark. That wasn't her.

It was clear that Anastasia was taken off guard by her sudden change in direction to put herself in the Hunter's path. Maybe it was a mistake to be so forward but Alexis would do it again if she had the choice. If Anastasia wanted to hurt her for stepping out of line then there was no point in trying to be civilized with each other anyway. If all she was to her was a Were to be hunted, prey to be eliminated, then at least she wouldn't be wasting her time trying a one sided relationship with her. Alexis was once terrifed of Alexander. The moment she knew he was a Hunter, she feared for her life. But he had soothed those fears and even had her join him on a hunt, sharing his life with her in a way she had never expected. Alexis got over that fear through him and while she knew not every Hunter was the same, she knew that it was all in how you thought of yourself that decided if you were the Hunter or the Hunted. She chose never to be the prey again, not after what went down with her father.

And so she braced herself for anything when she turned to face Anastasia. She saw the flicker of flames in the redhead's eyes but she stood her ground. No longer would she run. She was here to stay. She watched Anastasia's lip curl and saw the curt way her gaze slid from her hand to her eyes. Still, Alexis refused to flinch. She wouldn't give her the satisfaction of that. Her shield was rippling through her body, ready to spring into being should the tension cut like a knife but Alexis waited to see if common sense would have Anastasia's tongue loosening instead of her fists. It's not like she expected her life story or anything. She just wanted to know why the sudden interest. Why the back pedal on how she had acted toward her in the cafe? Was it because Alexander was present that Alexis felt a hostile front from the redhead? If she wasn't genuine in her interest then they need not waste their breath trying to get along in Alexis' opinion, not even for Alexander's sake. It would only cause more problems down the road as far as she was concerned.

And there it was. The moment Anastasia chose to speak, Alexis could see that she was right in her suspicions. Anastasia was only trying because of Alexander. It was like she considered herself charitable or something, doing a good dead for the Hunter she cared about. Well, Alexis could care less about being a charity case. She had her pride and she wouldn't let Anastasia, no matter how old or powerful she was or how long she'd known Alexander, destroy her good hopes in the rest of mankind. At Anastasia's comment about being cordial, Alexis laughed and shook her head. "That's where you're wrong. I don't play nice for show. I'm nobody's dancing puppet and I don't intend to put on a friendly front when it's not based on truth. If you change your mind and decide you really want to be friends, then sure, I'll give it a shot. But Alexander deserves more than a Broadway play where witches put on the masks of ladies, don't you think?" She quirked a brow.

As her voice lowered, Alexis only smirked. "You are more than welcome to try, sweet Anastasia, but I can assure you, this little fox has been hunted enough to know the rules of the game. And I don't plan on playing fair." She let the redhead turn away from her then, raising her head to watch her leave. "Till next time, Anastasia." She said back, her lips twitching with humor before she sighed and turned back to the bookstore.

alexis wilde