Crimson Bonds

Whispers in the shadows

The opulent dining room of the Golden Moon pack's manor exuded an air of extravagance, the polished silverware glinting in the soft glow of candlelight. As the final course was served, Savannah excused herself gracefully from the table, her departure timed just before the digestifs were presented.

Caleb couldn't resist the opportunity to deliver a jab as she rose from her seat. "Perhaps skipping dessert is a wise decision for once, Savannah. Might help with that expanding waistline of yours," he sneered, his cruel words hanging in the air. Claire, Luna of the pack, chuckled nervously, while Ava, the Beta's wife, shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

Savannah, however, met the insult with a practiced smile that masked the hurt. She simply brushed it off, as if unaffected by Caleb's words. "Thank you for your concern, dear," she replied with a hint of sweetness before attempting to leave the table.

As she stood, Caleb grabbed her wrist and his tone dripping with condescension. "Savannah, make yourself useful for once. Greet Alpha Tristan, Beta Declan, and Gamma Adrian. And for Goddess’s sake, don't embarrass me. I'll be busy tonight, so don't bother coming to my room."

As Savannah walked away from the head table, the weight of Caleb's insults and dismissals lingered in her mind. However, a newfound clarity emerged when she realized the underlying motive behind his words. Caleb's demand for her not to come to his quarters wasn't a mere rejection; it was a calculated attempt to shield himself from potential embarrassment, a subtle acknowledgment of her ability to disrupt the facade he presented to the pack.

Savannah walked purposefully toward Tristan's table, a feigned introduction on her lips. "Alpha Tristan, it's a pleasure to officially meet you," she greeted with a smile, disguising the deeper connection they shared. Internally, she recalled a previous encounter, a clandestine meeting where kindred spirits recognized each other's struggles in the shadows of a pack gathering.

Tristan, playing along, reciprocated the pleasantries before steering the conversation to the pack's mysterious mountain lion problem.

Savannah paused, “Alpha Tristan, there's something we need to discuss. Many members in the pack are showing a shared concern about the unsettling cries of the mountain lions. They're willing to understand the cause, but we must tread carefully.”

Tristan leaned in attentively, “I see. How can I be of assistance in this matter?”

Savannah paused, considering her words. “We need your support, but it must be handled delicately. Our approach should aim to inform without inciting fear among the pack members.”

In the midst of their conversation, Savannah couldn't help but notice Ana eavesdropping nearby. A spark of curiosity ignited within her—was Ana a potential ally, or could she be swayed to their cause?

The discussion shifted to Audrey, and when Tristan pressed about arranging a meeting, Savannah's gaze flickered with contemplation. "Perhaps I can make arrangements," she mused. With their conversation concluded, Savannah left the dining hall, retreating to her room to ponder how to move forward.

Sacha, the pack Alpha, had lied to other packs about Audrey's fate, masking her servitude as caretaking. Determined to expose the truth, Savannah pondered how to leverage this information, contemplating a strategy that would grant Audrey a reprieve from the oppressive Omega quarters.

A hesitant knock interrupted her thoughts, and when she opened the door, Asher stood before her, his demeanor nervous.

Asher timidly entered her space. His usually confident demeanor replaced by a sheepish and nervous energy.

"Savannah," he began, avoiding direct eye contact, "I need to talk to you about something important."

Savannah, perched on a plush chair, regarded him with a measured gaze. "What's on your mind, Asher?" she inquired, her voice a blend of curiosity and caution.

He hesitated for a moment before finding the words. "It's about Audrey. I've seen the way she's treated, and I can't ignore it any longer. It's not right, and I need to do something about it."

Savannah's eyes softened as she sensed the genuine concern in Asher's voice. "Go on," she urged.

He paced the room, his nervous energy palpable. "My family, the way they treat her, the way I treat her... it's not fair. She's been through so much, and she doesn't deserve the cruelty they inflict on her. I never realized the extent of it until now."

Savannah studied Asher's troubled expression, recognizing the internal struggle he faced. "What do you propose we do, Asher?" she asked, her tone suggesting a readiness for action.

He took a deep breath, steeling himself. "I want to help her, Savannah. I want to make things right. Can you assist me in finding a way to protect Audrey from my father... my family's cruelty?"

Savannah nodded, a spark of determination lighting her eyes. "We'll need a plan, Asher, and we need to be careful. The dynamics within the pack are delicate, and challenging your father openly could lead to chaos."

Savannah c*cked her head and played with the ends of her long Auburn hair,

“Asher, you know Alpha Tristan’s been asking after Audrey. Do you know why?”

Asher shrugged, “Dad’s been saying for years that he saved Audrey from ‘the accident,’ and her father was pretty well respected by the other packs. He probably just wants to offer his condolences.”

Savannah smiled, “and your father, no doubt, hasn’t told anyone she’s ‘employed’ as an Omega servant?”

Asher’s face lightened as he came to the conclusion Savannah led him towards.

“I think I have it!” He looked Savannah in the eye.

“Shhhh let him get there,” Savannah’s wolf, Mette, whispered. Savannah suppressed an urge to start, it had been a while since Mette had spoken.

Savannah broadened her smile, “yes, what do you have in mind?”

“I’m going to force father to bring her up to the guest quarters to live. We have one more bedroom free after the visiting Alpha’s entourage are set up.”

“Asher, that’s a delightful idea. And it might give you some time to really connect with Audrey,” Savannah stood and placed her hands on his.

“Do come back after you speak with your father and let me know how it goes,” Savannah squeezed and pulled back.

Asher turned and left the room with such confidence that for the first time Savannah saw him as a future Alpha, it was too bad that was never going to happen.

“Let him have his dream,” Mette said reassuringly.

“Mette! I haven’t heard from you in so long, I thought you’d left,” tears sprung in Savannah’s eyes.

“I didn’t leave, I’ve been here,” Mette said sadly. Savannah stiffened, feeling anger that her wolf had been around during her horrible years with Caleb but hadn’t bothered to speak up until now.

Savannah suppressed the feeling, knowing all too well that her wolf would still feel it, “Mette, what's on your mind tonight?”

Mette paused for so long, Savannah thought she’d vanished again, then a stronger voice, “There's something I can't quite grasp. It feels like a suppressed energy within me, like I'm not as connected as I used to be.”

Savannah furrowed her brow, intrigued by Mette's revelation.

Savannah sat back, as long as her wolf wasn’t lying to her, this would explain a lot. “Suppressed? In what way?”

Mette said, more confidently, “I've been trying to understand. It's like a cloud over my instincts, and I can't sense as clearly as I once did. I suspect it has something to do with those vitamin shots we've been given..... I’ve actually been trying to talk to you for a long time but I just can’t get through.”

Savannah's eyes narrowed as she processed Mette's words.

Savannah thought of the squirrely pack doctor, his oily fingers finding the vein in her arm for the weekly injections, “the ones the Dr. Henrich administers.”

Savannah's concern deepened as the implications unfolded.

“If the vitamins are affecting you, Mette, then it's possible they're manipulating the pack's instincts as a whole. We need to investigate this further.”