Arya
He is pissed off? Huh? He has no right to be mad right now. After conniving with the vampires to kill my brother and destroy my pack, he still thinks he has the right to go around ordering me and expect me to respond like some idiot.
Where the hell does he get the nerve to act normal after all this?
He wanted to kill Eric and then saved him? what is that? A sick joke, alright, and he expects me to believe that?
I bury my face in my hands in frustration.
What am I supposed to do? Act along like everything is fine? Like he was never a part of this?
I look at the green dress he has given me to wear.
Dinner with my brother.
What if he is yelling the truth? Well, there is only one way to prove it.
I get up from the bed and decide to get dressed. I apply Logan’s lotion and comb my messy hair.
The door creaks open and Logan comes in. He slowly approaches me with one hand in his jeans pocket. Despite my anger towards him, he still has the composure of a God.
I have been leaning against the table for the r support while I brush my hair in front of the mirror. I turn my attention back to my reflection and tuck my loose hair strands behind my ear.
Logan stands behind me looking at our reflections in the mirror in front of us. I feel his hand going down on my sides caressing me through the fabric of the dress. My traitor skin tingles at his touch.
He ducks his head into my neck, his breath tickles my skin making the hairs at the back of my neck erect.
I feel both his hands on my waist, pulling me into him. I want to surrender into his arms, let him touch me, and kiss him, but all this feels wrong.
“You look good, baby,” he murmurs and glances at our reflection. I am as still as stone, transfixed in my position.
“Don’t fight me, Arya. It’s been so hard for me without you here. I was so worried for you and I could not stop wondering how you are. You have no idea how glad I am that you are back and that you are safe,” he says and then buries his face in my hair, smelling it. “I missed you,” he confesses, his voice heavy with emotion. I keep still, my eyes clouding with tears. I don’t want to believe him.
“I am ready to go and see my brother if he really is alive,” is what I say. I feel his head lower a bit, down to my neck. He stays like this for a few seconds and then looks up in the mirror. I think his eyes gave turned red or is it that I am mistaken?
“Okay,” he responds, his expression pained, and steps away from me. He holds my hand, and I let him. I will need his support going down those stairs to the dining.
When we reach the stairs, Logan offers to carry me but I turn him down. I just don’t want him to touch me. Holding hands is already uncomfortable enough.
Into the dining room, I am welcomed by Eric’s scent. He is sitting next to Ella with Jordan and Kate in front of him.
They all turn to look at us when we enter. I want to break free from Logan’s hand and run to him but I would probably land on my face before I make it to the table.
A huge smile spreads on my face but tears also flow out of my eyes. It is so hard for me to believe that he is really here and he looks so good as if no harm has ever happened to him.
Getting up from the chair, he comes to me, smiling back at me. I fall into his arms, letting him hug me. I want to feel if he is really here. He embraces me so tightly, lifting me off the floor since I am way shorter than him.
When I pull away from the hug when I am shaking with tears.
“It’s just so… You… Here? You are dead…,” I hiccup, stammering throughout.
“Come on, Arya. Don’t cry. This is supposed to be a happy moment. Don’t cry,” Eric says, cleaning off my tears with his thumb. I give him a small smile.
“I am fine, and it is all thanks to alpha Logan,” he says and glances at Logan who is still standing behind me. “If he had not come in time to save me, I wouldn’t be here and we wouldn’t be having this precious moment. He has done so much for us Arya. Much more than we can ever repay him,” his eyes are fixed back on Logan. I don’t let myself get overwhelmed by gratefulness for Logan. He caused this after all. But somehow, my anger subdues after Eric says that he is the reason why he is still alive.
“Come on to the table. There is a lot to say but I don’t think the food would be patient with us. Let’s eat before it gets cold,” Logan says.
Nodding, I rub away my tears and put on a smile. Logan holds my hand and leads me to the table. Eric Does back to his place next to his mate. At the head of the table, there is the Host’s seat and an empty
seat beside his. I know that is where he is taking me, but when I spot Penny and Jex sitting next to each other with an empty seat next to her, my mind is made up.
Penny and Jex both smile at me when we reach them. I stop walking. Logan looks down at me.
“Is that place occupied? Can I sit there!” I inquire with a nervous smile. I can feel Logan’s energy through his firm hold.
“Ah…,” Penny’s eyes dart from me to Logan, knowing it is a bad idea.
I look up at Logan who is trying so hard to contain his nerves.
“Can I?” I ask. Everyone’s eyes on the table are on us, making it so hard for Logan to refuse.
“Sure,” he responds and stretches his lips into a forced smile.
“Thanks,” I responded sincerely. I would be more comfortable with my friends throughout this dinner than being next to him at the head of the table acting like the host’s wife yet I am not.
The table is quite full of honourable guests. There is Logan’s beta and gamma both with their mates. There is also another bald male sitting next to a blonde. I quickly recognize this man from the day I was captured and brought here. He was hr big man in heavy boots. I wonder what his position is in the pack’s leadership. The introduction ceremony was the time I was supposed to be introduced to all of the pack’s government and the pack members, but whatever happened, happened.
Our pack’s gamma, Leo is here too with his mate, Cassandra. I don’t see our beta. I guess he is one of the many who did not survive the massacre. I wonder how many more members of the pack that I was used to are no more.
I chose not to dwell on the horrendous thoughts. I should be happy. My brother is alive and my two best friends are here. At least the moon goddess was kind enough to save me my closest. I should be grateful for this moment.
Servants start serving the champagne in the Champagne flutes in front of each seat.
“You look good, babe,” Penny, eying my dress.
“You don’t look bad yourself,” I respond, complimenting her red evening dress.
“It is all courtesy of the alpha. He has managed to get us all this attire and has been treating us like the closest of the family since we came here,” she replies.
Of course, he did. He is my omnipotent mate who never fails to please.
“I don’t mean to be rude, interfering, or whatsoever but I think you should have sat next to him on that empty seat. It was probably saved for you. You are the alpha’s partner,” she says, her voice a whisper.
“I know that,” I respond.
“You do? Then why?” she frowns in disbelief.
“I need the space. I want to enjoy myself with my best friends. Is there something wrong with that?” I ask.
“Yes, of course, yes. You have made him look bad in front of his council,” she whispers back.
Do I care?
I take a quick look around.
No, I don’t.
“Are you guys fine? You have just reunited and you are already have g the infamous lovers’ fights?”
I am grateful for the cluttering of cutlery and the murmurs that we can’t be over
heard.
“Is that how you react to missing each other?” she raises an eyebrow at me.
“It’s kinda complicated, Penny. It wouldn’t make sense if I tried to explain it to you. I don’t get it either,” I respond. She just shakes her head at me.
There is a sudden silence at the table. I notice that Logan has stood up with his flute of champagne. Everyone’s attention has been turned to him.
“Meeting here, for this meal, together as we are, is not our own making, non of is expected of us to be here today at this table after all that has happened. We have no right to jubilate, after all, that we have lost, many lives, property, and a lot more than we know as of now, but we are lucky to have survived. We can’t take that for granted. We can’t just overlook it like it was going to happen after all. I am not going to talk about what has happened because we have come this far with the victory in our hands and all that matters now is the way forward. We should be grateful, to the moon goddess. She has been watching over us throughout this battle and has kept us alive. She deserves a sacrifice. She deserves more than we can give.”
“Tonight, on this dinner table,” his eyes land on mine, and he doesn’t look away. “I would like to propose a toast to survival!” he raises his flute.
“Cheers to survival!” we all accord, raising our flutes for the toast.
I sip the Champagne down my throat. Feeling more refreshed than I have been in a long time, probably because I haven’t had anything in my stomach for three days now.
The food is served and we dig in. Most of us are famished, we have every right to be.
Other than the joyful banter around the table, the meal is generally quiet.
I manage to down on a full plate of food, surprising myself. I don’t remember the last time I had this much food.
More champagne is served throughout the course.
Eric and Logan keep exchanging words, probably about alpha issues, because none of them is smiling about the conversation like the rest of the guests in the room.
“You guys are also going to spend the night in this house?” I ask Penny and Jex.
“Yes, we were given rooms in the Western wing. That’s how the woman who took us there called it,” Penny responds.
Oh, what happened to Mr Alpha’s privacy in his private house? Is he reconsidering his policies for my family? Well, I don’t know how to feel about this.
“The other pack members who came to take refuge here are staying in the pack house and are being treated well. I have been checking on them,” Jex says.
I don’t know anything appropriate to say about that.
“Why would you ask? Are you planning to sleep over with me?” Penny asks out of the blue. “No, there is no way I am going to accept that. You have to make it up to your mate. I am sure it is your fault.” I just roll my eyes at her. Very thoughtful, Penny.