All for destiny

Chapter 5

Nora

"Nora, can you take this platter of chicken to the table please?" Mum asked as she busily tossed the salad in the huge bowl that she reserves only for important dinners and big salads.

"Sure." I nodded, still thinking about my conversation with Harry earlier. We haven't had a chance to talk again since. My Dad and Mr Harlington had been chewing his ear off and then Mason finally joined us and began talking football with him. I balanced the platter of chicken onto one arm and carried the gravy boat in the other. Once I was happy that everything was perfectly balanced, I made my way out the back door to the table. Mum had presented the table beautifully with candles, white linen and gold cutlery, all of the things that she saves for special occasions. I was almost at the table and lent across to place the platter down. As I did, Kimba (our dog) bumped into my leg and pushed me off balance. I felt the platter tip to the side and as I tried to correct it, gravy began dripping down the side of my hand.

"Ugh!" I groaned, attempting to catch everything. Mason just laughed from where he was sitting opposite me. I rolled my eyes.

So helpful... Emerald muttered in annoyance.

Just as I expected everything to fall to the ground and across the white table cloth, a hand reached out and caught it.

Harry. He picked up the platter and placed it safely onto the table in front of me. He winked back at me. I heard Mason groan. Of course, he would be disappointed that I didn't ruin dinner and embarrass myself even further today.

"Thanks." I mumbled, gently placing the gravy boat down and quickly scurrying back to the kitchen. My face was flushing bright red again.

"As if you helped her then, that would have been hilarious!" Mason groaned to Harry as I was making my swift exit.

"Mason, you should be nicer to your sister, she won't be here much longer." I heard Dad scold him. It just made Mason laugh.

Mason, be nice to me? Doubtful! I sighed to myself.

"Oh, you're back! Good. Would you mind taking this outside too please?" Mum asked, holding out the jug of water with lemon slices.

"Is that it?" I asked, taking the jug out of her hand.

"Yep. That should do it. I will be out in a second." Mum replied, shooing me out the door.

I did not want to go back out there. I did not want to drop anything else.

I had never focused so hard on where I was walking as I did on that short amount of space. My eyes focused on the pavers and on Kimba who was walking closely behind me.

"Round two?!" Mason laughed, elbowing Harry in the ribs as encouragement. Harry did not respond as he had hoped.

"Shut up Mason." I muttered as I placed the jug down successfully. I continued to smile condescendingly at Mason. He glared back but I couldn't help spot the satisfied smirk on Harry's face.

"So, Nora, what are you doing now that you are on school holidays?" Mrs Harlington asked me as I sat down at the table beside her.

"Oh, Nora is officially finished school now. She will be going to university in the next few weeks!" Mum gushed. Mason rolled his eyes and lent back on the chair, crossing his arms across his chest. His standard response to when the attention was not on the golden future Alpha.

"Really? I didn't think you were that old yet?" Mrs Harrlington said, surprised.

"I am seventeen." I shrugged.

"Nora skipped year five. Both Mason and Nora were lucky enough to graduate in the same year!" Mum smiled proudly.

"Yea, great..." Mason groaned.

"Sounds wonderful!" Mrs Harrlington grinned back at Mum.

"So, where are you going to university?" Mrs Harrlington asked me.

"The university of Melbourne." I answered, serving myself some chicken.

"When do you leave?" Harry questioned suddenly. Everyone's eyebrows shot up in response.

"She leaves next weekend." Dad said with a mouthful of bread. I knew that he wasn't fully on board with my decision but there was nothing he could say to change it and he knew there was nothing here for me.

"Wow! That soon!" Mrs Harrlington exclaimed.

"And when do you turn eighteen?" Mr Harrlington asked.

"Next month." I stated.

"How will you meet your mate if you are not living in a pack?" Mrs Harrlington asked, the concern clear in her tone.

"I am sure she will manage." Harry interrupted. I felt like I needed to thank him. This was an argument that I had been having with my Mum and Dad frequently ever since I made my decision to leave.

"Well, keep eating everyone! There is plenty left and dessert will be coming later." Mum changed the subject.

"Chocolate brownies are my favourite!" Harry winked at me as he shoved a fork full of chicken and potatoes into his mouth.

I find this guys so weird. Everything is telling me to keep my distance and be wary, but there is this little part of me that thinks he is safe and warm. I was internally confused. Internally at war.

"Harry has been doing some important work removing rogues from the areas around our pack in the last few months." Mr Harrlington stated proudly. I knew I wasn't seeing things when Harry shrunk into his seat. His somewhat calm exterior turned hard and gruff. Clearly, this was not something he enjoyed talking about.

"Oh really? Maybe we should have a chat about it. We need to get a better hold on the rogues surrounding our borders." Dad added, raising his eyebrows in interest.

"He has been eradicating rogue groups who refused to be moved on and placing those who were happy to be relocated in human towns." Mr Harrlington explained. From the look on Mrs Harrlington's face, you could tell this was not something she really wanted her eldest son to be doing.

"Interesting... I would really like to find time for us to swap responses to rogues at some point if you would be interested, Harry." Dad suggested.

"Sure." Harry muttered flatly.

"Once he has returned from his next assignment, I will set it up." Mr Harrlington answered on his son's behalf.

For the remainder of the dinner, Harry was silent. He ate, drank and was a background spectator in the conversations. We did not speak again all night. I don't think we even made eye contact again.

That answers that. Emerald mumbled.