NALEDI’S POV
I walked side by side with Caellum, who led us to the dinner table. I’d been informed that a couple of others would be joining us and I was petitioning to have my dinner in the confines of his room.
“Why can’t I? It’s not like I have a working relationship with them. They won’t even miss me on the table.” I complained yet again, dragging my feet.
For the first time, I felt my complaints were music to his ears. “You are a part of this pack, Naledi. If you are not in a good relationship with the people, then maybe you should quit trying to hole up in your room and take this as an opportunity to socialize.” He shrugged, “Who knows, you might make more friends before the end of the night.”
I wanted to say why would I need to make friends when I would be leaving anyway but I swallowed the words. Caellum was in a great mood, and so was I. Being freshly fucked, I really didn’t have the mental strength for a fight with my mate so I settled for the next best thing.
“I already have enough friends. Marcus and Korah are a handful already so I think I’ll pass.” I dictated, “Besides, I am hardly the best friend in the room. The ones I have can barely tolerate me. The last thing I want is to burden your people with the task of getting to know me, or worse, having me as a friend.”
Caellum laughed. Caellum freaking Morello actually laughed out loud. Was I that funny? And why did the sight of him with his head thrown back in beautiful laughter quicken my heartbeat?
“Let them be the judge of that, okay? Besides, it’s not going to be the first time you see any of them, and best believe, you’ll be beside me all night long.”
His tone was suggestive and suddenly that didn’t sound like a bad idea anymore. I was freaking stoked by the thought of spending the night beside him. Although my version included a lot less clothes than he had on, but beggars can’t be choosers right?
I shut my trap as we approached a double door that led to the dining hall. Instrumental music played from behind the doors and I mentally prepared myself for what I very well knew was coming.
“Are you alright?” I was surprised when Caellum nudged me, tightening his grip around me. “I’ll be with you every step of the way. All you have to do is stay beside me with your head held high.”
I nodded, words stuck in my throat. I was never one to feel conscious of people, but for some reason, I was overthinking things. I couldn’t remember if I was nice or brutal during my stay here but I figured I had more enemies than friends.
That was always the case with me.
The double doors were opened by guards who greeted us with a bow, and we walked right in. Unlike usual, the hall was filled to the brim by the Cosa Nostra werewolf populace, some eating, others holding a drink in hand and some dancing their way through the night.
It was like a freaking party.
I felt the nerves fizzle as I took in the soft ambience, led my Caellum, who in this instant, acted more like an ordinary person than the Alpha I knew him to be.
It seemed like the people were used to this side of him, so other than a few nods here and there and some looks, we passed on fine to our table.
“Naledi! Where have you been?! I came to your quarters earlier on and was told you never made it there.” Korah said as soon as she saw me.
Marcus hit her on the head and she gave him a dirty look before voicing her thoughts, “What was that for?!”
“I’m sorry for her misbehaviour, My lady. Alpha. She is a little out of it.” Marcus apologized like the good child, while an unrepentant Korah sulked at him, still holding her head like an angered child.
“She was in my quarters.” Caellum said with a proud glint in his eyes, “I’m sorry, we were a bit occupied. I didn’t think you’d come looking for her.”
Caellum answered Korah who nodded enthusiastically. It was a comic relief to see her act in such a manner. Was she always a light drinker? Because from the state of the table, there hasn’t been much happening prior to our arrival.
“She is a light drunk,” Marcus affirmed my thoughts, his gaze was tender as he regarded her. “She still has a lot to learn.”
“Let her be. She’s allowed to enjoy the night.” I turned to Caellum with a smile. “I think I want to get drunk too.”
“You will.” He said, “Right after you get some food in your system and we are done with the purpose of this dinner.”
For some reason, his sentence felt loaded with a lot of things I knew I might not be a fan of, I knew there was no room for argument so I did the next best thing.
I took a seat at the table, deciding to get started with my food. My stomach was growling for the food that littered the table. I’d be damned if I got to whatever the hell Caellum had in store for me without getting some food in my system.
Thankfully, Caellum read the room, and after watching me for a few minutes, dug into his own food while I chatted lightly with a barely coherent Korah.
You can imagine how time flies when you are not having a bad night. Soon enough, Caellum interrupted the evening, declaring a toast to me. You heard it. A toast to little old me.
“We are all gathered to officially welcome Naledi Rogers into the community. As you know, she was given a special assignment, with Marcus and Korah to assist her, and today, she returned with victory, bringing down Luka Donatello, and enlarging the Cosa Nostra.”
The people cheered, and for the first time, I felt connected to them, felt their joy and it made me happy too.
“Tonight, we raise a glass to Naledi Rogers, my mate and a special member of the Cosa Nostra. She will be living with us, joining us at the head to run the business to the best of our ability. Cheers!”
People drank to that and so did I.
A feeling of contentment washed over me as I watched everyone celebrate my promotion as well as my victory like it was theirs. For the first time in a long time, I felt I had a family.