ROWAN
With conflicting thoughts going around in my head, Viktor leads both I and Lisa to the dining area.
Alden, Rina, and Jhenelle can be seen waiting by the doors.
“Are you nervous?” He asks me as we approach them.
“A little,” I say. “It has been a while since I have been amongst pack wolves.
“Well, you have nothing to fear among mine, I promise you,” he tells me while giving my hand a firm squeeze.
Where did you go?” Rina asks Lisa the moment we join them, while Jhnelle immediately latches onto Viktor’s leg.
She wasn’t with me when I woke up, but for some reason, I wasn’t really worried.
I know Viktor would never let anything happen to her.
“I needed a stroll,” I hear Kusa say while I look down on my daughter.
“Where were you, missy?” I ask with a mock frown.
“I was hungry and Louis made me three sandwiches! I ate them all.”
“Is that wise?” I ask as I look over to him. “We are about to have dinner now.”
“They were small cuts,” he says. “And with her energy, I am sure she has burnt through them by now.”
“Hmm, fair point.”
“So?” He asks as he looks over at us all. “Are you guys ready?”
“Do we have a choice?” Rina asks before gesturing for him to lead the way.
The dining room is less of a room and more of a hall.
A large, huge hall.
Picture Harry Potter’s dining hall where everyone would gather for the special assemblies.
The hall has a tall ceiling painted in a soft cream color, while the walls are made of a rich, honey-brown wood, and the floor is covered in a large plush, beige carpet.
There are long tables that stretch across the room, each one lined with simple, wooden, high chairs. The tables are made of the same warm wood as the walls, and they are laid with clean, white tablecloths with lace embroidery in teg gems and are arranged in long rows while one table is placed at the front, raised above the others on a small platform. The raised table has a simple, silver centerpiece, and a small, graceful vase with a few white flowers arranged inside.
I am guessing that is where we are going to sit.
The lights in the hall are gentle and warm, coming from a series of basic, glass chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.
While the windows of the hall are adorned with a few tapestries, showing scenes of wolves in different stages of transformation all howling at the moon.
The tables are filled with an abundance of dishes, including hot bowls of soup, platters of roasted meats, and baskets of freshly baked bread.
And while the room is filled with the smells of roasting meats and freshly baked bread, there is still a tension in the atmosphere, almost everyone, if not everyone is staring at us..
“Well, this is very welcoming,” Rina mutters as we walk through a space in the rows.
“Cool it,” I order her.
As we approach our table, we pass by one where my own wolves are seared, quite close to the raised platform and they all give a semblance of a nod as we pass by
They too must feel very uncomfortable with this new arrangement.
They had escaped from packs only to get allied with one another.
Is this… and I really making the best decision here?
“Are you okay?” Viktor whispers to me as he takes my hand and helps me up the platform, Jhenelle still in his other arm.
“Yeah,” I say with a strained smile. “Just peachy.”
I notice Andre standing by a chair as he waits for us to join him, his eyes suspiciously fixed on something or should I say someone behind me.
“Alpha,” he greets with a low bow. “Luna.”
The easy way he says it does nothing to settle me, in fact, it only serves to bring to mind my earlier worry.
I don’t think now would be the best time to reveal that little tidbit.
As we take our seats, mine at the very right of Viktor, I notice a lot of glances and whispers, as people gesture at us.
At me.
Oh, this is uncomfortable.
Viktor makes to rise to start the introductions but is too him, with a tight grip in his hand
“Viktor,” I say, voice strained.
“What?” He asks as he settles back in his seat. “What is wrong?”
“I- I have been thinking, and I… I don’t think now would be the best time to introduce me as your Luna.”
“What the hell not?”
“Several factors, really. Like for one, I am just arriving here, they don’t know me. All they see is the leader of the Winter Wolf Coalition. A rogue. At least, give me a chance to earn their trust or at least their respect.”
“Hmm, that makes sense,” he says as he watches me. “What is the other reason?”
“Other reason?”
“You said there were several factors, what are they?”
“Well, if it is made known that I am your mate… your Luna.. that might cause some … complications… with…”
“Dominic,” he finishes.
“Yeah.”
“Do you think I am scared of him?”
“No,” I chuckle in amusement.
“Then what-”
“I know you don’t care about him but he is an obsessive prick who feels entitled to everything. The fact that I am now your mate will only fuel his demented hatred for you, for us, and might cause him to… react badly. He might try to use that knowledge to deceive people. To say that is the only reason you want me, that you want control of the rogues.”
“That is not true.”
“I know that, but people can be stupid and can be easily led.”
“Fine. I will agree for now. At the very least, I can introduce you and explain to them what is going on, right?”
“Of course.”
He gives me a small smile before modding and getting to his feet.
The moment he does so, the whole hall goes quiet.
“I know you all have questions about our interesting guests,” he begins. “Some of you already know who they are but for those of you still in the dark, these are the wolves of the Winter Wolf Coalition and as of this moment on, our allies.”
At that announcement, the dining mouse increases with everybody talking over each other, surprise and disbelief in the air.
“I know, I know, it is weird” he continues. But do you think I would ally myself with lowlives?”
There is an assent of agreement in the crowd, no he wouldn’t.
“The winter wolf coalition is different, some of them victims of their own packs, some of them having no choice in bringing rogue at all. They have neither harmed nor attacked anyone without them deserving it. And they were the ones who took me in and nursed me back to health all those months I was missing. And now, they are in danger because some people think they are easy to pick off, or because they believe they shouldn’t exist.
“I don’t believe that is how we are. Yes, we are ruthless, but we are also honorable. Now, I know you have questions, but I will urge you to come to me or Andre or any of the high ranking wolves to them, and in the meantime, I ask you to extend our hospitality and welcome them.”
Silence falls at that, and I exchange looks with my own wolves, waiting for the next thing to happen.
They might either reject his appeal and be unwilling allies or they accept him and this might become the beginning of a great friendship.
What will it be?
A full long minute passes before a group of wolves from his side gets up and heads to the table sitting my own wolves
Without exchanging any words, they take their seats amidst them and begin eating.
And just like that, the atmosphere lightens.
A few more get up to join them while Viktor takes his seat.
“See,” he whisper into my ear. “I told you, you have nothing to fear.”
“Hmm, I should really learn to listen to you.”
He chuckles as he reaches over for a bottle of wine and puts me a glass.
Before I can lift it to my mouth, a voice that instantly irritates me the moment I hear it filters over to us.
“Viktor,” a woman croons as she walks up the platform to us. “You hurt my feelings. Why didn’t you ask me to join you up here?”
She is petite in stature with a low cut black hair and slanted eyes, also sorting an irritating pout
“Go back to your table, Vivian,” Viktor growls.
“Oh, come on, don’t be like that,” she replies as she leans over the table, right in his face
I am going to cut a bitch.
The flash of jealousy shocks me, rendering me stunned for a few seconds.
I didn’t think I had it in me.
“Am I not a guest too?” she continues in that same irritating voice.
“You are, but you are very free to return to your pack if you are not pleased with me.”
She recoils back and pours at him before sending me a death glare.
It’s like a kitten growling at a bulldog.
Hilarious.
She turns and leaves, allowing me to send Viktor a questing glance
“A guest from another pack,” he says. “She is inconsequential.”