Untamable

Chapter 7 Banquet

Edward’s POV

I stand in the shadow of a pillar, watching as the servants hang banners throughout the banquet hall. Anna is on her tiptoes, adjusting the angle of a silver candelabra, her light brown braids swaying gently with her movements.

“Edward!” Alicia exclaims with a flash of surprise in her eyes when she sees me. She’s pleased I showed up as promised—early, even.

“You clean up nicely,” she remarks, her gaze sweeping over my freshly shaven face.

I notice she’s wearing a new peacock-blue silk gown, cinched tightly with a golden belt. “You look lovely too,” I say politely.

She chuckles softly, asking, “How does it feel to be back?”

“Terrible,” I reply.

She gives me a curious look and I continue, “I talked to Henry about Mom, hoping he’d help. Turns out he already knew—”

Before I can finish, a loud crash echoes from the study as a wooden ladder topples over. Noah, cradling a stack of ancient books, has fallen onto the wool carpet.

"Damn it! Who put The History of Werewolf Wars on the top shelf?"he curses.

I can’t help but laugh. Anna quickly sets down the candelabra and rushes to help him.

“Put a lid on your archaeology obsession, Noah,” Alicia remarks. “Today’s your father’s birthday banquet. Everyone’s busy preparing to bring him joy—can you focus on something other than books?”

“But it’s The History of Werewolf Wars,” Noah grumbles.

“You’ll scare off your mate one day, nerd,” I tease him.

Noah squints, throws back sarcastically, “Worry about yourself, playboy. Your mate will slap you."

“Noah!” Alicia chides. “You can’t speak to your brother that way.”

“He called me a nerd first,” Noah argues.

“It’s true, I started it,” I admit.

Noah and I exchange a glance before bursting into laughter. Alicia rolls her eyes, but smiles as she shakes her head. My half-brother Noah just turned 18 and spends most of his time in the library, making him both terribly clumsy and surprisingly sharp. Clumsy in that he trips over everything, but sharp in that he wins every debate.

“Why’d you come back suddenly?” Noah asks, reaching for a cherry from a fruit platter, only to have Anna slap his hand away.

“No snacking,” she admonishes. “Those are for the guests.”

“Why are you always in such a bad mood?” Noah asks.

“I’ve wondered that too,” I add.

Anna huffs, gives Noah’s shoulder a slight shove, and takes the cherries away.

“Who ticked her off, Mom?” Noah asks Alicia.

“You disrupted her work,” Alicia replies.

“Sorry!” Noah calls after Anna’s retreating figure, but she ignores him and disappears around the corner. Noah shrugs and looks at me, “What about you? Why are you upset?”

“I'm not upset,” I deny immediately .

“Your knitted brows tell a different story,” Noah points out, with a mischievous grin. “Did Mom interrupt your activities with the she-wolves in the brothel?”

His accuracy surprises me. I nod, then shake my head.

“What does that mean?” Noah raises his eyebrows.

“It means Alicia did interrupt, but that's not why I'm upset.”

“Then it must be Henry,” he concludes.

I widen my eyes, unsure how he reached this conclusion. “How did you know?”

“Because you went straight to Henry’s study when you got back,” Noah says, studying my face. “Something happened between you two. Did you puke on his books, and he scolded you?”

I can’t help but smile at his guess. “No,” I shake my head.

“Tell me what happened,” Noah urges.

“Curiosity killed the cat,” I say.

“But I’m a wolf,” Noah quips.

Alicia clears her throat and changes the subject, obviously not wanting her son involved in this matter. “Henry’s about to marry General George’s daughter, Lady Augusta. They’ll be at the banquet tonight, perhaps to set the wedding date. You should start thinking about finding your mate too, Noah.”

“Women are boring,” Noah mutters. “Why not let Edward find one?”

“I tried to persuade him, but he doesn’t listen to me,” Alicia shrugs.

“Then I won’t listen either,” Noah grins.

Alicia sighs, giving me a pointed look, “You’ve set a bad example for your brother.”

“Don’t blame me,” I protest. “Henry sets a good example, and your son chose to follow mine.”

“So why are you mad at Henry?” Noah persists.

“We had a disagreement,” I say evasively.

“About what?”

I glance at Alicia, seeking her approval. She hesitates, then nods. So, I tell Noah the whole story. He frowns and says, “I understand Henry’s concerns, but I support you in finding Aunt Margaret.”

I smile at him, “Thanks, nerd.”

He snorts, “No problem, playboy.”

***

As evening falls, the guests take their seats. Every pack's Alpha attends, each bearing gifts. Among them are marquesses and viscounts whose faces I can never match to their names, along with their wives, mistresses, and daughters.

"I get why you're always in brothels," Noah says from the seat beside me. "This feels like social suffocation."

"And I understand why you always hide out in the library," I say.

"Enough," Alicia says, putting a swift end to our banter.

"You're really tough on us, Mom," Noah says with a smirk. "You’re unhappy when I’m rude to Edward, and now you’re upset when we talk nicely."

I can't help but chuckle at his logic. Just then, General George’s daughter, Augusta, makes her entrance. With her high cheekbones and a pale gold gown, she sports a sapphire necklace almost as big as a pigeon’s egg. Henry, ever the gentleman, extends his hand like he's demonstrating in a royal etiquette class, but to my delight, Augusta gracefully sidesteps him and enters the hall alone.

Henry’s hand falls awkwardly to his side as he quickly follows her, trying to recover.

I instantly like this independent young woman.

At the head of the table, Father stands with his staff, looking every bit the leader in his deep red cloak, embroidered with five wolves encircling the central lycan—a testament to the five tribes under lycan rule. As the musicians start to play, guests settle into their seats.

Noah watches the proceedings intently, his excitement palpable—it’s his first major banquet since coming of age. Father used to say he was too young for such events.

"Who are all these people?" Noah whispers.

I start pointing them out for him. "See how they're seated? It’s not by chance—each position reflects the region they rule. At two o'clock, you've got Alpha Cain from The Red Moon Pack in the northeast, presiding over The Crimson Castle. He and his former Luna Brittany split over some juicy scandals. His daughter Celeste is 17. Then, at four o'clock, there's Luna Evelyn of The Blue Moon Pack, ruling The Sapphire Lake area..."

"What about their Alpha?" Noah interrupts.

"He died in a battle with rogues. Luna Evelyn has led the pack since then, raising her son Harper on her own. They say Alpha Cain offered to unite their families, but she turned him down. Since then, tensions have been high, and last year Cain didn’t show at Harper’s birthday for the first time in years—he used to come bearing extravagant gifts.”

Noah wrinkles his nose. "Sounds a bit petty."

"Rejection has a way of making people petty," I chuckle. "Over at six o'clock is The Wood Pack; though I don’t recognize the representative. It's not Alpha Hugh. Maybe he had someone stand in for him."

"Anything intriguing about that pack?" Noah asks.

"I visited once when I was young. Not much stuck, except the place is a labyrinth of trees. Easy to get lost in," I say with a dramatic flair, pausing before adding, "Oh, and Anna once predicted using tarot cards that I'd find my mate from the Wood Pack in some 'tricky way.'"

"A tricky way? What's that supposed to mean?" Noah's eyes widen like he'd just heard the juiciest piece of gossip.

"I have no idea," I shrug casually.

"Do you believe that prediction?" Noah persists.

"No," I grin like a Cheshire cat.

"Why not?"

"Because Anna’s a she-wolf, not a witch. Plus, she can barely keep track of what each card means. She's just winging it."

"Got it." Noah turns his attention back to the guests. "Who's at eight o'clock?"

"Ah, that would be Alpha Robin Williams of The Silver Moon Pack—the single dad phenom."

"Oh, I’ve heard of him!" Noah exclaims. "His daughter, Dorothy, is always causing him headaches, but he's supposed to be super patient."

"That's him," I confirm with a nod. "At ten o’clock sits Luna Nora of The Shadow Moon Pack, a force to be reckoned with. Her domain is The Moonlight Falls, and she commands an army like no other."

"An army like no other?"

"Yeah, she takes in abused women and trains them as female assassins," I say, admiringly.

"That's incredible," Noah remarks, eyes wide.

"Thinking of joining up?" I tease.

"How would I even do that?"

"Oh, I dunno. Maybe try a wig and a dress?" I suggest with a mischievous grin.

Noah rolls his eyes, and I laugh, enjoying the banter.

"And which pack is General George from?" he asks.

"None, actually. He leads patrols through The Wild as his calling."

"Gotcha."

As the banquet reaches full swing, Alphas and Lunas from the packs offer Father their birthday wishes. When the representative from The Wood Pack steps up, I notice Father narrowing his eyes. "Barry, where's my dear old friend Alpha Hugh?"

"He's deceased, Your Majesty," Barry responds awkwardly.

"May he rest peacefully," Father intones solemnly. Then he inquires, "And his son, Alpha Aiden, why isn’t he here himself?"

"Well… Alpha Aiden has some personal issues. He’s recently divorced, had a spat with the new Luna. She ended up scratching his face when things got heated..."

"Haha! She-wolves and their sharp claws!" Father laughs heartily, amused.

Henry chuckles too, though Lady Augusta sitting across from him frowns, turning to whisper something to General George. Too far away to catch their exchange, I notice her lift a wine glass to her lips, realizing she’s not wearing an engagement ring.

Did she ever wear it, or did she take it off purposefully?

Noah seems to have spotted this too and leans over to whisper, "Looks like Lady Augusta isn’t too keen on marrying Henry."

"Classy taste," I quietly commend.

Noah snickers, and I add, "But politics might not give her much choice."

With every drink, Father’s cheeks grow rosier, and his voice gets louder—a telltale sign things might take a turn.

Sure enough, after knocking back another drink, he slams a fist onto the table. His bloodshot eyes sweep the room and finally land squarely on me.

Oh no.

"Edward!" Father bellows, sending the crystal chandeliers into a quivering chorus.

Everyone halts mid-bite (I almost choke on my steak). I reluctantly set down my utensils and meet his gaze. "Yes, Father?"

“How have you been?” he demands, his voice as sharp as the cutlery.

“Good,” I reply cautiously.

“Good?” he mocks. “Then why are you back? Got kicked out by the whores when you ran out of money?”

I grip my silver dinner knife so hard it ought to file a complaint. Noah rests a hand on my wrist, gently shaking his head. I press my lips into a thin line, forcing down my anger. “I heard it was your birthday banquet—”

“So you shouldn’t have returned,” Father cuts me off coldly, taking another gulp of his drink.

A hush falls over the room. The pack representatives scan their plates, suddenly finding their vegetables very interesting.

“I invited him,” Alicia interjects, her voice trembling slightly. “Please don’t blame him.”

“Alright,” Father huffs, clearing his throat as if preparing for a royal decree. “Ladies and gentlemen, I have an important announcement.”

I brace myself, expecting news on Henry and Lady Augusta’s impending wedding. Instead, Father declares, “Celebrating a birthday is joyful, and on this special day I realize I’m aging. It’s time I retire, and I plan to pass my kingdom to my successor.”

The hall erupts with shocked whispers.

“As you see, I have three sons: Henry, Edward, and Noah,” he continues deliberately. “But I think it’s obvious who should become the new king. Henry is noble, brave, righteous, and responsible; Noah is scholarly and diligent, but still too young and inexperienced.”

Wait... Did he just skip over me entirely?

“So, I believe Henry should inherit my throne,” Father announces with finality, surveying the room. “Does anyone object?”

One second. Two seconds. Silence, thick and suffocating. There are no cries of agreement or dissent. What does this mean? Are they all nodding internally or just too chicken to say anything?

But their opinions don’t matter.

What matters is what I do. Remain quiet and watch Henry ascend? That means losing any chance of finding Mom!

“If there are no objections, then this matter is—” Father pauses, eyes narrowing at me. “Do you have something to say, Edward?”

“I object,” I declare.

Father throws me a glare of surprise mixed with impending rage. “You object?”he asks.

“Yes,” I continue, struggling to keep my voice calm but firm. “Skipping over me and giving the throne to Henry violates the law.”

Father scoffs, “And what makes you think you’re more qualified than Henry?”

“We can duel,” I suggest, voice ringing with a bravado I’m not entirely sure I own.

"You can’t beat him," Noah hisses quietly, but I barrel on, ignoring his warning.

“You wish to duel your brother?” Father raises an eyebrow, a bemused smile playing at his lips.

This makes me reconsider—matching Henry in a fight might be reckless. But now that I’ve thrown the gauntlet, retreat isn’t an option.

Suddenly, Noah springs to his feet, stepping protectively in front of me. "Father, this wouldn’t reflect well on the kingdom. We’re family. Brothers shouldn’t resolve issues with duels."

"Then do you have a suggestion, Noah?" Father asks with mild interest, curious about what his bookish son has to offer.

"Set up a competition," Noah suggests with a surprisingly calm demeanor. "Whoever clears out the rogues first inherits the throne."

I hold my breath, silently swearing that I’ll never call my brother a nerd again.