Chapter Ten
1586 Words
I look towards Female Gamma Aria—she looks torn as she watches me take my seat.
Can I reject the offer of the King's sister?
I want to ask. I try to rein in my emotions, knowing that these werewolves with heightened genes could smell it off me with a single breath.
“You already met the King and the high-ranking women after the Queen,” Melanie began her narration, and I had to make an extra effort to keep up with her breathless speech.
“The female Beta, Neila, and the female Gamma, Aria. These are their mates—the second in command to the King, the pack Beta Hayes, and the third in command, the pack Gamma Rune.” She took a huge breath and a break.
I cautiously nodded at the two men present. The Beta now had a child beside him, a little girl no more than four. He picked her up and placed her upon his thighs—she looked strikingly like the female Beta. She looked like a pretty angel.
I didn’t know I was staring until her eyes lifted to meet mine, startling me. My heart sped up because I didn’t know how not to be awkward. My breaking point was when her lips formed into a toothless grin. I looked away from her like I’d been burned.
She looked pure, innocent, and full of light. I didn’t want to taint any of that with my curse.
I could feel the awkwardness in the room brewing and her father’s assessing eyes, but it didn’t linger too long before it was gone.
Melanie cleared her throat before speaking. “Down there are the Council of Elders, and then the Beta and Gamma's close families, and then our friends, warriors, and the rest of the pack.” She pointed, and my eyes and body peeked at the council part—Melanie seemed to notice.
“You’ve heard of the Elder’s Council, right?” she inquired, and I nodded in amazement.
I never really thought I would get to see it while alive. The Council of Elders were like a myth to many werewolves—we’d only heard stories of them and knew they only existed in the royal pack.
“Yes. Stories,” I muttered—stories of how ancient and knowledgeable they were. They could solve any puzzle of any kind. People said there was one among them who was past a thousand years old.
“They’re nothing special around here. They’re a pain in the head—at least most of them, if you ask me,” Melanie said, a mischievous smile crowning her face, and my eyes widened in surprise.
“Melanie,” Female Gamma whispered, her tone chastising.
The long table began to fill up one after the other as the entire pack seemed to gather around, awaiting dinner.
I puffed out a huge breath. I could feel a banging headache beginning to grow in my head.
Oh no.
I took my hands off the table and placed them on my thighs to fidget. It was only a small pain, and it still left an inkling of anxiety in my core.
I never wanted to feel a pain like that again. I wasn’t sure if I could handle it.
A group of elderly people began to stroll into the room, and my lips parted open.
It was one thing to know—and it was another to witness it.
There were about ten of them. The youngest among them seemed to be no less than fifty years old.
They smiled and greeted the pack members as they took their seats.
I was more than amazed to be in the presence of the Council Elders, but I curled and shrank into myself, praying no one noticed me. I wanted to sit here watching, but invisible to all.
A combination of chairs scraping the floor, the delicious scent of food, and multiple people filled the room—overwhelming me.
I’d always wondered what it felt like to be included, to be regarded—and I was so used to being isolated I wanted to return to it.
An elder, a female almost the same age as Elder Isolde, had her nose up in the air sniffing.
Her head snapped towards our direction and her dark eyes—holding deep mystery—found mine.
I was startled by her scrutiny. A large frown appeared on her wrinkled face, making me shrink into myself even further.
“Who are you, girl?” Her voice sounded inhuman.
My heart hammered hard in my chest—something was wrong.
My soul felt like it was being pulled out of my body. I winced at the loud and vicious roar from deep inside my head, shocking even me.
My wide eyes remained on the elder, whose eyes were now pure white.
“Karina, stop!” I heard a loud yell, and the room turned into chaos for the second time in one night.
It felt like I was transported into a different universe with the elder.
I wanted to scream—but my lips wouldn’t move. Her eyes shined brighter than before.
A loud slam tore through the room. I fell from my chair and collapsed onto the floor, crawling away from the table until I was certain I was far enough from her.
A shirtless Alpha King stood rigid, his fists clenched tightly on the table, towering over everyone a second time tonight—all because of me.
The roaring in my head calmed, and I was able to get a clear view of my surroundings.
The elder’s eyes were back to their usual color, and her gaze flickered past the mighty Alpha King and toward me—but he stood between us, blocking me from her view.
“Don’t you ever use your voice in my dinner room,” he roared violently. And even when I knew it wasn’t directed at me, a shiver ran down my spine.
“Yes, Alpha,” the elder muttered, her voice tight.
I could feel the relief of the entire pack that he did not lose control again.
I waited for someone to bark orders at me to disappear for disrupting dinner—but no one did.
The entire room was pitch quiet.
“Hey.” I heard a voice call from behind me.
What was it with all the women in this pack and their looks?
“You need help there?” she offered with a blinding smile, bending over to meet my eyes.
She was gorgeous.
She had bright red hair, and for the first time, it made me want to smile—hers was only a shade brighter than mine. It was the first time I was meeting someone with a similar hair color.
The female Beta stood tall behind her.
I shook my head, hoping not to upset her. I picked myself off the floor, too ashamed to look up.
I could feel his stormy eyes going over every inch of me. Someone handed something to him, and he adorned a shirt.
“Come on, Valerie.” Melanie smiled—I hadn’t realized she was beside me.
She folded her arm around me, and this time, I let her.
I hated that I looked so pathetic.
She helped me back to my seat before returning to hers.
I felt the eerie eyes of Elder Karina on me and simmered down the urge to run away.
I wanted the earth to swallow me whole, but I knew even that wish wouldn’t come true.
The King took his position at the table, right at the master’s seat.
And everyone else standing did the same—but before I could focus on that—
My heart brightened when someone called Elder Isolde. I looked up to find her heading toward us.
“I had matters to attend,” she murmured to someone, but I couldn’t be bothered to look for the other speaker.
Her eyes moved around the table like they were seeking me out, and when she found me, she displayed a reassuring smile upon her face.
Someone cleared their throat beside me, and I turned to find the gorgeous lady from just now.
She plastered a polite smile on her face as she spoke with grace. “I didn’t know we had a guest,” she said, her eyes shifting to the Alpha King.
“Well, now you know,” I flinched at Melanie’s shockingly harsh tone.
The gorgeous lady ignored her and focused on the King, bending toward him like she did to me, and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek.
He granted her no regard—not even a glance her way—like this was a usual ritual.
Unease spiked through my heart, and I wanted to place my palm upon my chest for comfort—an action I didn’t understand or want.
She lifted herself and turned back toward me with her constant smile.
“Sweetie, I understand you don’t know this, but that seat belongs to me.”
My blood rushed loudly in my veins.
I swallowed hard, looking toward Melanie, who had her brows raised.
“The seat doesn’t belong to you, Mira—it belongs to the Queen. And until she’s found, it’s an empty chair deserving of pure souls.” Melanie scoffed out loud.
“I’m the future Luna,” the gorgeous lady announced proudly.
My heart halted—and my blood froze.
- Writer
