*Danika*
“Mom, I thought we don’t talk during meals,” he replied curtly to his mother, dropping his spoon loudly on the table to give her a stony glow. “I have had a long day making sure the Kingdom is running smoothly just so you don’t think I am a failed king, yet, the little time I have for myself in this so-called family gathering, you won’t let me eat in peace.” There was a note of despair in his voice, and from the way I was feeling right now, it shows he was unhappy inside. What can I do for this man, Gad? When he hurts I do, it’s not my fault. It’s just the bond.
“You won’t talk to mother like that, Alonso! She merely asked a question!” Alfred snarled back at him, earning a likewise reaction from Alonso.
“Don’t forget you are in my house, Alfred. Remember that when you think you can talk back at me.” The words were calm, but from the look of dread that flicked past Alfred’s face before he masked it, I could tell the warning held water.
“You are a fool and a coward, Alonso. Father was much more foolish for thinking you will be a better King than me,” Alfred retorted, tensing beside me. The Omega serving food placed my meal before me, but I couldn’t touch it. Is this what they wanted me to come down to? A family that couldn’t keep their contempt away long enough to eat in peace. Every appetite the aromatic food must have roused in me died instantly as my eyes skimmed from one brother to another in trepidation. As for their mother, she didn’t care, she continued eating, unperturbed.
Alonso stood from his chair, the muscles on his forehead threatening to burst in rage, his fist clenching by his side. Paisley stood and held him, muttering something to him I couldn’t hear from my position, jealousy filling my body at seeing the way she was holding him. He looked like was going to explode anytime soon and I fear what would be the outcome.
Alfred smirked darkly, dropping his spoon gently on the table to pick up his glass of wine from the table to take a long sip, his disparaging eyes never leaving the seething Alonso. It must be very difficult to tolerate a brother who unlike others doesn’t fear him.
“Just sit down, son. You are disturbing the peace of this table,” that was Theresa referring to Alonso in the most collected voice ever, her deeply stained eyes meeting him as she dabbed elegantly at her mouth with a napkin, which she slowly dropped on the table as if she hasn’t just caused a fracas between the two brothers with her unnecessary question. Sometimes, I wonder if she intentionally does this to create more chasm in their relationship. But, to what end?
I looked at Alonso wishing I could reach him in my mind link, and try to soothe him. He was truly hurting. That is if he would let me.
“Just sit down, Bro. Stop making a fool of yourself,” Alfred added, earning my sharp kick below the table.
“Ouch! Stop bullying me, Danika. You are supposed to be on my side.” I blushed crimson, not knowing my action was going to bring the attention to me. Alonso’s face at that moment looked like he was definitely not going to make it.
Fuck!
I reached out to pick up a glass of wine to gulp down so I don’t have to say anything, but in my frenzy, I mistakenly knocked down the cup which sent the wine spilling on the table-part of it splashing on Alfred, and the rest flowing down to stain my dress and his shoes.
“Oh, my! I’m so sorry, it’s not deliberate, I promise,” I said, starting to fidget all over Alfred. Without thinking, I picked up the napkin on the table and began dabbing on the stain on his white shirt, his hand coming to hold mine possibly to stop me.
“Don’t worry, moonshine. I got this,” he said loudly, goosebumps rising on my skin. I quickly withdrew my hands and looked up early to see Alonso growl like a wounded Panther, smacked Paisley’s hand away from him, and stormed out of the dining.
Everyone gaped after him gobsmacked, perhaps wondering why he was acting that way. Obviously, he is angry with his brother, but his reaction towards his brother’s attitude to me had them confused-but not me. He was dying of jealousy just as I was when I saw Paisley holding him possessively. I looked down and smiled, finalizing that my plan of making him pay in his own coin is going to work. But for now, I stood up, and sat back on my seat, giving Alfred the bird’s eye to go to hell. He brought this upon himself.
“Are you okay, Danika?” Theresa asked me.
I braved looking at her and put on my charming smile to respond. “Yes, thank you, Theresa.” It seems to survive in this territory, you have to be tough, fierce, and stern like everyone. Theresa was definitely a cold-hearted mother, no wonder her children are the way they are.
Paisley’s chair scratched loudly on the floor, hence running off in the direction the King went. My body itched. I wanted to go to him too but didn’t want to raise the suspicion of others, so I numbed my senses and instead dragged close my plate of now frigid food and dug into it.
“I spoke to Lance today, and he said things are going smoothly with the mission he is presently on. He sends his regards to you,” Theresa informed me, her two elbows down on the table, hawky eyes drilling holes into me as if gauging my reaction. I immediately knew a bomb was coming my way.
She proceeded, “However I can’t help but wonder… pardon my inquisitiveness, if you don’t mind…”she chuckled devilishly, earning a sharp nod from me, beginning to fidget on my seat. “Why you don’t speak with Lance over the link? You know, every mate does. It’s like a secret communication without the technological bullshit we have in place now…” She gestured with her right hand, her shrewd eyes spotting mischief.
I paled, realizing I never thought of that. I cleared my throat, rapidly plucking the glass of sweet wine as I discovered my throat had gone dry. “I… you know-”
“Danika just transformed. She hasn’t yet built that connection with Lance. You know it’s a slow process, mother…” Alfred came to my rescue, giving me a precise glance before facing his mother. I was awed with how prompt his thought was-for a moment fearing perhaps he knew my secret. But I shook it off as impossible. I have done nothing to give it away. Alonso would kill me.
“Oh, okay. That’s sweet.” She was bobbing her head, her painted mouth stretched in thought. “Take your time, okay? Don’t mind my curiosity, I was just trying to, you know, look out for you.” She stood and the Omega behind her pulled back her chair for her to walk out. My eyes followed her exit, admiring the way her body was molded into her elegant gown, the clicking of her heels slowly receding up the stairs.
A perfect definition of a Luna Queen.
“You seem to admire her too much,” Alfred said, drawing me back with his assessment. I blushed, twisting about to face him, trying to gauge his reaction if they showed anything suspicious. I focused on my inner senses if I wanted to smell anything off with him-nothing.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked a breath away, his face not far from mine. I shook my head, nervously brushed out a hair on my face, and shifted my chair away. We must have gotten closer during the wine saga.
“Danika?”
“Yeah?” I recovered, recollecting his question, and quickly went to answer it to dissolve the awkward moment, “I… I like her carriage. Paisley too. I am nothing like that.”
His eyes were steady on me-I could feel it from my periphery and it was offsetting my balance. “You are nothing like them indeed. You are totally different for someone so powerful.” I flicked my eyes to him, his words striking a chord inside me, reminding me of Lance once more. He was the only one that said those kinds of words to me.
“Thanks,” I muttered.
He nodded, looked briefly back at his empty plate as if in deep thought, and snapped his head back at me and said, “C’mon, let’s go for training. We haven’t trained by this time before I know, but tomorrow I will be going to the border very early and will not be around for our morning drills.” He stood, tugging me up with him.
Excitement bobbed inside of me, but I am tired and needed sleep. “I am tired,” I deadpanned, tugging my hand that he had a strong grip on. I thanked the Omega that helped me, before following closely behind Alfred.
He gave me a side glance, snorted, and grabbed my hand to tug me in the direction of the door. It was getting dark but people would still be outside. I just hope he doesn’t plan on us training outside.
“Where are we going?” I gave up my silence and asked when we turned in the direction of the forest at the back of the house.
“Going for a run. I want to see that big wolf of yours,” he said cheekily, earning a shy giggle from me.
“But that’s weird. I don’t know if I can transform if someone is watching.” I meant it.
“You will, trust me. It comes from the inside. Consider it part of your crucial training. If an enemy attacks, you don’t expect them to excuse you before transforming to attack.” He was absolutely right. I was relaxed by now even though my thoughts kept trickling back to Alonso, knowing he might have locked himself in his study to drink away his fury.
Some minutes later when we were both transformed, my wolf stood by the tree I had hidden to change out of my dress to transform, my sharp red eyes regarding Alfred’s giant black wolf. His wolf towered mine by two feet and looked very imposing too. His dark green eyes looked back at me, somehow still managing to spot his deviant smirk. I howled at him, wishing I could mind-link with him and tell him to stop making a fool of himself.
He started striding to me, then stopped and howled back, his slimy nose pointing to the air. My wolf smiled and wagged its tail.
“Let’s go run to the end of the cliff, and the loser would be punished by doing twenty pushups in our next training.” I heard him loud and clear over the link for the first time since my transformation. My eyes lit up in excitement, my wolf ears standing on end that I could get a link.
Then without thinking-knowing he would probably win if he isn’t man enough to be lenient, I took off in the direction of the cliff, the wind frittering my gray furs, my soft paws plowing down the unfortunate pastures on my pathway-winning was the only thing on my mind.
What could possibly go wrong today?
…