"I look like a bitch," I tell Kieran in dislike, as we walk down the hall towards the stairs, to head to the main dining room where dinner will be served in my honor. Never liked to attract attention; it makes me nervous and clumsy, and it is the last thing I need at this moment with so many strange people.
Werewolf.
Hope Richard is present. It wouldn't hurt to see a familiar face, even if I'm still upset by all his lies.
"Yes, but a beautiful bitch,'' he answers near to my ear, placing his hand on my bare back, by the neckline that reaches my black dress waist with three-quarter sleeves and whose pencil-shaped skirt covers the middle thigh.
He is dressed in a black shirt with two buttons opens and rolled up on his arms, which draws all the muscles of his torso and arms. His pants are black too. His dark hair is stylish in a well-organized ponytail with gel.
"A bitch is a bitch," I reply. His closeness makes me dizzy, and I can no longer be upset, I can only think of how good feel his hand and his breath on me.
"No, if you're my bitch," he says again in my ear and I shudder, but I try to keep him from noticing, "of course, if you want to be. Just let me know."
"Don't even dream it," I reply, "besides, you have a girlfriend, remember?"
He clears loudly and I know I managed to shut his mouth. One part of me knows he is not mine. The rest claim every space between us. He growls next to me, and I swallow hard. I think that defines our current relationship well.
We finish going down and arrive downstairs, where Derrick and Frans are waiting for us, who stand behind us until they take us to the dining room. Several persons are waiting for us, although not as many as I expected.
Kieran directs me to a seat near Kayra, who is standing next to a middle-aged woman. Her father is next to the woman and close to Kieran, who is on the table head's right-hand side, which is empty right now, as well as the left side seat and the next seat. Other seats are already taken.
Then Kieran and Maikan start a very lively conversation.
Kayra smiles at me.
"Hi," she says, "are you still angry?"
"I suppose so, although it's useless," I reply.
"You are going to love dinner, the chef is the best," she replies, ignoring what I say.
"Hope they don't serve raw meat," I say sarcastically, and she rolls her eyes.
"You know we eat normal food, don't you?" she looks at me like I offended her.
"No croquettes?” I keep making fun.
"You know dog bad jokes aren't going to make you very popular here, don't you?" She answers and I try to lower two points my comments intensity.
"I see Astrid hasn't arrived yet," says the woman next to Kayra, who shoots me an unfriendly look, but then she concentrates on Kayra, completely ignoring me.
"I suppose she mustn't have liked at all Kieran said his father that Alanna was his mate," she replies to the woman, "leave her, she will get over it."
"She asked the alpha to force him to reject her and he told her that he was not the one to decide for his son," she replies to Kayra, "he also reminded her that she had not met her mate, yet."
"She must be angry," says her daughter, "I understand if she does not come, so I will stop by her room later."
“Alpha Kyle asked all the main bosses to be at dinner and she is the delta. She has to be here when her alpha calls."
"Mom," says Kayra, "someone just broke her heart, he’ll understand."
"I don't think Kieran broke her heart, Kayra," she says sarcastically, "rather, her plans to become the pack’s Luna."
"That's the risk we all run in having a relationship with someone who is not our destined mate, and she knew it. For now, she is hurt, but I know her, she will throw a couple of tantrums and she will be the same again."
"You say it because you already met your mate, isn't it, silly girl," she says playfully, nudging her and giving her a knowing look.
"Yes," the girl confesses, "Velkan is everything I expected and more."
"I hope your father thinks the same," her mother replies, "he doesn't like guys who prefer to live in the human world."
"He and I talked about it," she replied, "he'll stay with me the moment I become Beta."
"And there is very little left for that, barely a week," her mother tells her, “My girl will become an adult."
Kayra clears her throat a little, but her face is red with embarrassment.
The murmurs are hushed when Kyle makes his appearance through the front door, accompanied by Atea, elegantly dressed. Behind them are two huge men, the same ones who escorted Richard a while ago.
Richard is not present.
Kyle wears a black suit with a black shirt and a silver tie, his hair styled just like his son. Atea has an ankle-length silver dress with a mid-thigh slit and long sleeves down to her wrists. She wears her black hair in various braids.
They both take a seat at the head of the table and the left seat. Kyle looks up and down the table but fixes his gaze to the left side with a frown.
"Do you know anything about Astrid?" He asks Kieran and Maikan, Kayra's father.
"I haven't heard of her," Maikan informs him, "I thought you sent her on some mission."
"No," Kyle replies, "I told everyone to be here, I had several important topics, and I hoped my delta would support me. I'm calling her, but I'm assuming she's asleep because I don't feel her answering me."
Both Kieran and Maikan are silent, but Kyle is upset and calls one of his bodyguards to whisper something into his ear.
My stomach growls with hunger, but I don't see anyone worried about serving dinner. But I'm not the only impatient, as murmurs begin being heard again, but I notice Kyle and Kieran. Both are serene, but their eyes secretly search around for the reaction of everyone present.
After a while Kyle's messenger returns, who approaches and whispers something in his ear, shaking his head negatively. The alpha's face turns red, but he tries to maintain his composure and signs at a waiter who goes to the rear side. Then he enters with an entourage of waiters, who bring trays full of food and serve each of us.
My plate has a huge filet with battered potatoes and green salad.
"Are you okay with that or do you prefer croquettes?" Kayra teases and I try not to choke on laughing with my mouth full.
"It's fine like this, thanks," I reply, rolling my eyes, and she giggles.
When we're all done with dessert, Kyle clinks his glass, and we all look at him.
“We are gathered here because, as someone of you already knows, we have found Adara's daughter, who was in the care of Maddox, the pack's former beta, before his brother, Maikan, took his place. Her name is Alanna, but she prefers to be called Bianca since it was how they knew her in the human world," he says, gesturing in my direction and everyone looks at me, forcing me to nod in greeting.
"You must know, too, that Kieran has felt his wolf proclaim her as his mate, although she has not reached the age yet, so we are waiting for her transformation for finishing the process," he continues, prompting the look restless of all. Someone at the table whispers, "no wonder she's not here."
"While that's happening, you should treat her like your future Luna" Kyle finishes saying and returns to his usual tone.
"Does Einar know she's here?" asks a man with black hair, with a certain resemblance to Kyle.
"No, Ketin," the alpha replies, "and we hope this information does not come out of here. I'll take care of informing him later."
"I understand, my alpha," the man replies.
"I know your concern is she is underage, and Einar has rights over her as her father and as the Silver pack's future alpha," Kyle points out and my eyes go wide. There is hadn't crossed my mind that I might be alpha. Kyle gives the man a meaningful look, "I'm working on that, Ketin. For now, let's celebrate our great friend Adara's daughter is here."
My father, the murderer, has rights over me. From what I've been told, the last thing he wants is me being the alpha of any pack.
My brain is blasting wondering what my options are and how Kyle can do for me, considering my dad is alpha too. It seems that this wolves' world is more complicated than I imagined.
"We have a small reception in the great hall," Kyle announces, his face lit up with happiness, pulling me out of my thoughts, "as part of the welcoming Alanna's celebration," he indicates, and we all move to another part of the house. It is a huge room, with music.
Kieran takes me by the waist and leads me to the living room center.
"You don't lose anything by asking me if I want to dance, do you?" I say sarcastically.
"But we're not going dancing," he answers, "I just want to talk to you without anyone interrupting us," he says, as I wrap my arms around my chest and he runs his fingers up my arms, trying to get me to take them and follow the rhythm.
"We can talk while we sway to the music," he tells me and I give in to his request from him and I put my hands on his chest, while we move from one side to the other, "that's better."
"I heard Kayra will be beta soon after she comes of age in a week," I tell her, trying to make conversation.
"That's right," he replies, "it's what I'm waiting to be the new alpha."
"Will you replace your father soon?" I say in amazement.
"Yes, I should have done it when I became an adult, but I preferred to wait for Kayra, she is my best friend."
"And what about your father and Maikan?"
"They will give up the job, of course, and become advisers," he replies, and I stare at him, "the pack needs young blood to lead it."
"But a person with more experience would know how to lead, or so I've been told," I reply.
"That's why they stay as advisers," he replies with a radiant smile, "just like my Uncle Ketin. My father has been helped a lot by his advice after Grandpa died.”
"I also heard that Kayra and Velkan are a couple," I say changing the subject, "Isn't she supposed to become an adult for her wolf to show up or something like that?"
"That's true, but Velkan's wolf recognized her and that means that Kayra's wolf will recognize her for sure," he answers me, and I raise my eyebrows, so he continues, "Kayra already accepted him as her mate, but her wolf must accept him, too."
"And what happens next? Do they marry and have children?"
"More or less, let's say they'll play house a lot, and when the time comes, they’ll make their own family."
Suddenly, the doors of the living room are thrown open, causing us all to look.
"Alpha Kyle," says a man almost out of breath, "I come from the northern border, a commission from the Silver pack is coming here. Alpha Einar leads them."
The music stops. The murmur in the room rises.
"Don't be afraid, darling," Kieran tells me, “We’ll figure it out, you'll see."
"Thank everyone for being here, but we must end the soiree," Kyle announces to everyone, then he looks at a few. while "Kieran, stay in your room with Bianca, have Derrick and Frans escort them. Atea, by my side, we must see each other as a united herd." "Yes, my alpha," they all answer, except me. "Kyle ... uh, sorry, alpha Kyle," I correct myself when I see the warning look, he gives me, "if you don't mind, I'd like to stay in the meeting. I think I will be of great help if you let me be there." "This world is too new for you, darling," he tells me with more kindness than I expected, "you won't know how to act in front of two alphas and I wouldn't want a confrontation with Einar today. I'd like to buy more time for you." "With all the respect you deserve, alpha, I think that if he listens to my opinion, it will be easier for you to convince him," I say, "don't worry, you have my word that I will behave and know how to measure up." "I'll be b
In the basement of the huge pack house is the dungeons. But they are not what I expected. The corridors are quite clean with good artificial lighting. The cells are like small rooms, with a bed and not a cot, a bathroom and a nightstand with a lamp and a shelf above the bed where you can put some books. Or at least that is Richard's cell, who placed the nightstand near the bars so that he could play cards with Velkan, who keeps him company. They both look at Kieran and me with raised eyebrows. Then I look at Richard carefully. His blue-gray eyes are very similar to mine, as are his chin and his cheekbones. His brown copper hair is similar to that of his brother, Maikan. Before I didn't pay attention to it, except occasionally when I accompanied him to the supermarket or to buy clothes, even on summer travels, some people would go with their children by the hand or play with them or simply smile with each other. In those moments I longed for Richard to really be my bl
I wake up to the sunlight coming through Kieran's bedroom window and the warmth emanating from his body. I try to free myself from his arms, but he squeezes me more. "Hi, sweetie, it's a nice day out there," he whispers in my ear and plants a kiss on my cheek. "It seems so," I answer and try to hide that I'm red as a tomato, "we'd better hurry, how does one go about getting some breakfast around here? We must be ready for the meeting with your father." He releases me from his embrace and growls, which makes me feel suddenly lonely. Then he goes to the bathroom, and I hear the shower. After a while, he comes out with a towel around his waist and his bare chest with drops spilling down his muscles and my mouth feels dry. Seeing that I'm looking at him, he laughs. "What?" He tells me with a crooked smile on his lips, "I look better now in the morning, right?" And for the first time I meet him, I don't know what to answer him. After gawking for a
The room where they had arranged everything for the dance in my honor is now a court, with a main table, two podiums, one next to the main table and one in front of it. There are also chairs arranged for the audience that is entering now. Kyle named his brother Ketin as his new delta, but it is temporary, because he oversees managing the pack's businesses, such as the Scarlet Moon clubs across the country, although I suspect which it's just a facade for his true work: espionage. So, at the head table, Kyle can be seen presiding over the court, with Kieran on his right hand, who is replacing Maikan because he cannot judge his own brother, Maddox. On the left hand is Ketin, conducting his first task as a delta. They have brought poor Richard from his cell and placed him on the podium next to the judges' table. Despite his worried face, he looks good and healthy. He looks in my direction and I smile at him to give him courage, but he nods to give me courage, too
Maikan moves over to the table presided over by the half-naked in his forties' man who rules the pack, and I can't help but fix my gaze on the muscles in his chest. "That man could be your father," I tell myself, but then I remember the man who was just kicked out of the room and my heart begins to ache. "I'll tell someone to bring dad a sweater," says Kieran, who sits next to me now, "all the she-wolves here are drooling," he adds, and I look away, "we don't want the case to be delayed, because mom comes to put them in their place, don't you think?" I clear my throat and lower my head as Kieran talks to Derrick and he brings the alpha clothes. It takes a few minutes before Astrid is brought to the podium. Her blonde hair looks a bit disheveled, and she has dark circles that make her look like a raccoon. "Silence, please," says Kyle who is now wearing a sweater, "we will initiate the trial of Astrid, the pack's former delta, who has committed high tre
"Come on, get up," Kieran takes my hands to stand me up and I feel as if till my hair hurts. We've been training in the pack house gym for an hour, and I still haven't struck a single hit. He dodges me and moves so fast, that I only see a blur before I feel the blow, "you have to pay attention to your opponent, anticipate his/her movements." "Anticipate?" I scoff, "if I can barely see you when you hit me." "You cannot see me?" He's amazed and he runs his hand over his head," but you're a wolf and you have alpha blood, so you should see my every move." "I've been a wolf for five days," I complain, "before that, I didn't have to hit anyone or worry about someone attacking me." "So, your life was very boring," he laughs, "I think we're going to start with something more basic, come on," he takes me by the hand and leads me to some mats in a gym secluded area, "here we can meditate." "What?" I say with a mischievous smile, "now you are going to be
The next day I return to Richard's place, but he is completely different. Where it saw walls covered in wood from floor to ceiling before, now there are a lot of flowers and plants in pots. The windows are open, letting in smells and sounds coming from the backyard. "As we cannot go to garden or forest, I have asked for some plants and flowers for this first session, then we will see what we can do when you already move on," says Richard, "now sit down, we will begin with the meditations." I do what he asks me. He has arranged some mats on the floor for making the exercises. "The reason why your senses are blocked is that we lived in a human city, far from any forest," he tells me, and I listen to him carefully, "when you were a baby we lived in a small town, where I could transform from time to time. But you were starting to walk, and your movements weren't natural for a normal human, so I took you away from the forest. We moved to a full of noise and pollut
"She's already waking up," the 's Kieran voice says, who is holding me in his arms, right where Einar's men left me, "are you okay?" "I think so," I say, "have they already left?" "There's no one here," he answers me, "we returned because I heard you in my mind and assumed that something was wrong." "You have no idea," I point and tell him everything that happened, "after they left, I was scared to see my claws, my God!" My voice comes out in a thread, "I didn't know it could change in parts or that it could change before I was of legal age." Everyone present looks at me in amazement, some pass their hands over their heads, someone screams in astonishment and others put their hands to their mouths. "Try to calm down," he whispers in my ear, but his muscles tense, "you're safe now." "We are not fine!" Kyle explodes and he takes his cell phone, "he's going to listen to me," he goes to the garden's other side so he can talk. Maikan and Ke