Chapter Three - Estate Dinner
1705 Words
Friday night comes quicker than I’d expected.
The drive to Kael’s estate isn’t that long but my father won’t stop coaching me the entire trip.
“Be polite. Answer the questions directly. Don’t fidget. Make eye contact, but not too much. Show enough respect to Alpha Dominic. Compliment his home. Don’t mention dormancy until they ask you.”
“Dad -“
“Yes, and if they ask you about your wolf, be honest but sound hopeful. Don’t say you’re not working on it, say the bond will help you.”
My hands are twisted on my laps. Shaking.
“What if they don’t like me?”
He glances over for a second.
“They will. You’re your mother’s daughter. Surely, that will mean something to wolves like them.”
‘Them’ being the Ironfang wolves. The ones that see us as lesser beings because our pack has humans and wolves living in the same territory and they despise humans or anything related to it.
“What if it’s not enough?” I ask, uncertain, paranoid, and tensed as I have been. Looking away at the trees.
He doesn’t answer.
When I turn my head back to face the road, I see a giant tall structure. Massive. Towers at each corners. With the Ironfang logo - a large wolf with jaws open - crested on the iron gates between them.
My father slows down as we approach the gate.
A guard approaches simultaneously.
“Mr. Veiga?” He’s moving around our car, searching with some attitude. Then he gestures for the gate to be opened. “Alpha Dominic is expecting you. Welcome to Ironfang pack.”
I stop breathing.
The gate opens.
The pack is more organised than ours. Structures here are built with better quality and intent.
When we arrive the parking lot, a woman approaches. Mid fifties.
“This way please.”
We follow her.
The interior is worse. Far more intimidating.
Very high walls. With pictures of different Alphas hanging, facing us.
I feel like an insect.
My father is unfazed. He’s moving with precision and focus. Probably focused on the outcome of this dinner more. This shouldn’t be any problem.
We arrive the front of two gigantic doors. The woman opens it outwards.
We enter.
The space alone could seat fifty wolves comfortably at the same time having dinner.
A large brown table with crystal chandeliers suspending from the ceiling, and of course more portraits.
Four people are seated at one end of the table.
Alpha Dominic at the head. Mid fifties, gray hair at his temple, broad shoulders.
He doesn’t stand when we enter.
Kael stands beside him. He smiles when he sees me.
There’s a young woman seated opposite Kael. Softer. Similar dark hair color with Kael. She waves when she sees me.
I wave back shyly. Hands still straight beside me.
And then there’s the fourth person. Very familiar.
Yes.
The woman from the Autumn Gathering earlier. I remember her golden eyes. They’re colder in close proximity.
Why is she here though?
“Ah, Luna. Mr. Veiga.” Kael crosses to where we’re standing. Takes my hand. “Thank you for coming. I hope it wasn’t difficult getting here.”
“Thank you for inviting us,” my father says too quickly. “It wasn’t any problem at all.”
Alpha Dominic’s eyes follow the interaction. Cold and calculating.
“Sit.” He says. Not an invitation. More like a command.
My father sits. Kael pulls out a chair for me, and I sit.
“Luna, this is my father, Alpha Dominic.” He points to the younger softer woman, “my sister, Isabella.” Then he gestures towards the other woman, the colder one from the gathering. “Sienna Frost. She’s a Beta warrior and helps coordinate pack security.”
“Nice to meet you all,” I manage, standing up.
My father joins and bows before taking his seat.
Isabella smiles with enthusiasm. “It’s nice to finally meet you. Kael’s been talking nonstop about you.”
“Isabella.” Alpha Dominic’s voice cuts through. “Let’s eat.”
Immediately, about three staff members appear with plates. Some kind of roasted meat with vegetables arranged beautifully around it. And two bottles of wine.
They begin serving everyone seated.
Alpha Dominic cuts through his meat with precision. Doesn’t look up.
“Tell me, Miss Veiga, what do you bring to a union with my son?”
The room goes quiet.
Kael tenses beside me. But he doesn’t interrupt. Just takes a seat beside me.
“It’s a reasonable question,” Dominic continues. “My son is the Beta heir to this pack. One of the strongest in the region. What value does this union offer Ironfang pack?”
As if I’m nothing but mere transaction.
My father jumps in, trying to save me. “Luna’s mother was from a powerful bloodline. White rare wolf with healing gifts. That heritage alone -“
“Failed to manifest.” Dominic’s voice him off. Cold and flat. “Your late wife was powerful, Mr. Veiga. I am aware. I remember Elena Veiga. Impressive healer, I must say. And shifted early - at sixteen. Even led hunts by eighteen.” He looks at me. “You’re twenty-three. Five years late isn’t something you call just “late”. It’s failure.”
The words pierce right through me. This one hurt more than all the names I’ve been called.
Kael’s hand finds mine under the table. He squeezes it slightly.
“Luna’s bloodline is rare, Father. White wolves are highly valuable. Especially the healers. When the bond is complete and she shifts, you’ll see. This match strengthens our pack even more.”
He’s defending me. But I’m spiraling inside.
Dominic doesn’t look impressed.
“Saria Volkov was always a better option for you. Well trained. Shifted at sixteen. Perfect match for you - if not that she left to Europe. I invested years in that alliance. Then the Volkovs left, and you bonded with…” he gestures condescendingly at me. “You bonded with this.”
My appetite gradually fades. Kael goes still beside me.
“Saria is gone, Father.” He says. Controlled.
Isabella clears her throat in the midst of the tension. “Luna, Kael mentioned you love reading. Have you seen our library? It’s extensive, really. Maybe after dinner I could show you?”
Bless her.
Bless this girl for throwing me a lifeline.
“I’d like that,” I say.
“Isabella, we haven’t finished discussing pack matters.” Alpha Dominic’s voice draws back attention. “Sienna, what’s the update on the border patrols?”
Sienna straightens. Drops her cutlery and focuses on the alpha. “It’s running smoothly, Alpha. No incidents anymore since the last rogue sighting last month.”
“Good.” Dominic nods in approval. “Your dedication is always appreciated, Sienna. Always.”
“Thank you, Alpha.” She bows slightly and resumes eating.
Kael reaches for his water and his hand brushes Sienna’s by mistake.
“Sorry a-“
“It’s fine, Beta. Not a problem.” Barely warm.
Dinner drags on. Alpha Dominic questions my father about various things, including his work. They sound polite on the surface but always have a bit of condescending tone in it.
Every answer my father gives sounds too desperate and too eager.
I want to disappear. This is not what I had in mind when I imagined this.
Isabella finally stands. “Luna, let me show you around the gardens before it gets really late.”
“I’d love that.” I latch onto the opportunity.
We escape from the dinner hall.
The gardens are beautiful. Well trimmed. With a fountain at the center - a wolf carved in stone - water coming out from its mouth.
Isabella walks beside me. “I’m sorry about my father. He’s just…impossible to please.”
“He hates me already.” My voice cracks.
“He doesn’t hate you. He just…” she sighs. “He wanted Kael to mate Saria. They were close as kids. Everyone thought they’d end up together. Then she moved to Europe two years ago. But he keeps bringing her up. As if… as if wishing she’d stayed back will eventually bring her back and the bond with you would magically disappear.”
“Does Kael remember her?”
“Barely. They were young, but my father keeps acting as if he lost his soulmate.” Isabella touches my arm, looks me in the eyes. “It’s not your fault, Luna. He’d find fault with anyone who isn’t Saria. Kael loves you. I can tell. He doesn’t look at anyone else the way he looked at you tonight. That says a lot.”
We walk back in silence. Letting the thoughts settle within me.
When we reach the dinner hall, it is ending. Everybody’s eaten. And satisfied I think, because my father is standing next to Alpha Dominic as if they’ve come to some consensus.
But it’s Kael that sees me first. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” My voice is flat.
He doesn’t believe me. Dominic joins in on the conversation. Eyes stern and fierce.
“You have my conditional approval for this courtship, but Miss Veiga,” his eyes lock onto mine. “If you haven’t shifted by the ceremony, we’ll revisit this arrangement. Ironfang cannot afford any weakness in its bloodline.”
Message received. Threat delivered.
“She’ll shift, Father. The bond will complete. You’ll see I made the right choice.”
My father’s face is somewhere between pale and hopeful.
“Thank you, Alpha.” I manage. Bow my head and turn to leave. My father does same.
Our drive home is silent.
My father keeps glancing at me. “I think that went well. Conditional approval is good. Now you just need to focus on shifting. Whatever it takes, Luna. You have to prove Kael right. Have to prove that you’re worthy of this match.”
“I’m trying, Father.”
“Then try harder.” For both of us.”
That’s the last time any of us says any word until we reach home.
- Writer
