“How about we go after having lunch with me? It will be my honour to share a meal with you,” Lucas proposed, as if he hadn’t just been fighting with Maya a moment ago.
Maya and Jackson looked at each other.
“I don’t think we can have lunch,” Priyank declined. He didn’t like how Lucas didn’t even acknowledge his presence, as if he wasn’t there.
“I forgot to ask, who is this guy? He doesn’t smell like a human or wolf or anything,” Lucas’s eyes went to Priyank.
Priyank smiled because Lima had also put a spell on him, so nobody could identify him as human. She had put a spell on Priya so no one could smell her blood. She couldn’t put another one on, but at least he was safe.
“He is a cousin of my wife,” Jackson stated, keeping his words as if he wasn’t lying.
“So what is he?” Lucas asked.
“A wizard, that’s why you can’t smell him,” Jackson immediately shot back a reply.
“So what is your name, young man?” Lucas’s eyes fixed on Priyank.
“My name is Priyank, nice to meet you Alpha Lucas,” Priyank answered softly in a polite manner, without throwing any hands like he used to.
“Then why can’t you have lunch? Don’t you know that it’s a great opportunity when the Alpha himself invites you for lunch,” Lucas mentioned, narrowing his eyes.
Priyank hesitated, not wanting to overtly disrespect his invitation directly. Before he could respond, Maya stepped in.
“We appreciate the offer, but we’ve already made other plans,” Maya stated firmly. “Perhaps another time.”
Lucas cocked an eyebrow at her refusal. “I must insist. It would be seen as a grave insult to deny an Alpha’s hospitality.”
Jackson could sense the tension returning. “Maya, maybe we should accept, if only this once. It would help smooth things over after… the misunderstanding earlier.”
Maya stared hard at Lucas, seeing the smug look on his face. He was clearly trying to assert his dominance. But causing more conflict now may do more harm than good.
With a resigned sigh, Maya gave a slight nod. “Very well. We accept your lunch invitation, Alpha.”
Lucas’s smile was a rictus grin as he clasped his hands together. “Excellent!”
As he turned to make arrangements, Maya leaned in close to Jackson. “I don’t trust this. He’s up to something.”
Jackson kept his voice low. “I know. But antagonising him further today risks putting us all in jeopardy. For now, we’ll play along.”
Maya’s jaw clenched, but she knew he was right. For Priya’s safety, she would have to subdue her mistrust of the Alpha, at least for the moment. She could only hope Lucas didn’t have any more unpleasant surprises awaiting them.
As Lucas led them to the main dining hall, Maya couldn’t shake her apprehension. She kept close to Jackson and Priyank, her senses on high alert for any signs of trouble.
The dining hall was lavishly decorated, with a long wooden table set for a feast. Lucas waved them towards the seats closest to the head of the table where he took his place.
“Please, make yourselves comfortable,” Lucas said with an unsettling smile. “The food will be out shortly.”
Servants began bringing out platters piled high with meats, breads, cheeses and more. The rich aromas filled the air. Maya had to admit, it all looked and smelled delicious, though her suspicions prevented her from having much of an appetite.
As they began eating, Lucas made small talk, probing about Jackson’s pack and their relations with other Alphas in the region. Jackson answered politely but vaguely, revealing little.
Lucas then turned his eyes on Priyank. “So you’re a wizard, is that right? I can’t say I’ve met many of your kind before.”
Priyank nodded respectfully. “Indeed, Alpha. My powers are modest, but I use them to help people, whenever I can”
He lied, as he is just a human, nothing else.
“How fascinating,” Lucas said in a tone that suggested he found it anything but. “And tell me, do your abilities give you any special protections? Any… metaphysical enhancements?”
Maya tensed, catching the subtle implication in Lucas’s words.
Before Priyank could respond, there was a commotion at the entrance to the dining hall. Two guards came rushing in, one carrying a bodybag.
“Alpha Lucas! We found this just outside the compound…” The guard unzipped the bag, revealing the bloodied face of a young woman – one of Lucas’s pack members.
Lucas stood abruptly, fury etching his features. “Who did this?!”
Priya’s face twisted in revulsion as the guard revealed the bloodied body, looking like she might vomit. Levi and Rish had similar expressions of nausea and disgust. Maya was just shocked into silence, while Jackson went on alert, his body tensing.
Priyank didn’t outwardly react much, but he found the grisly scene deeply unsettling. He looked over at Priya with concern as she struggled not to be sick.
Priyank quickly moved to Priya’s side, rubbing her back soothingly. “Breathe, Angel Don’t vomit, here,” he murmured, trying to ground her with his presence.
Lucas was furious, his eyes blazing as he glared around the room. “Who did this?!” he roared, slamming his fist on the table.
The guard flinched. “We… we don’t know, Alpha. She was just lying there like this.”
The tension in the dining hall was thick and suffocating. Maya felt relieved they had avoided an altercation before, as it was clear Lucas was unstable and potentially violent when angered like this.
“I think you have a lot to handle, Alpha Lucas, so maybe we should leave,” Maya commented, her voice steady despite the gruesome scene before them.
There was no way she would put anyone, especially Priya, in a situation that risked uncovering her concealed identity. This needed to be handled delicately.
Lucas turned his furious glare on Maya, who looked ready to flee at a moment’s notice – something he didn’t like one bit. This woman was already getting on his last nerve. First she returns after 18 years, and now this.
Before he could respond, Maya continued, “We don’t want to be in the way while you deal with this tragedy. Perhaps we could reschedule and resume our lunch another time.” Her tone was polite but firm, leaving no room for argument.
Jackson gave a subtle nod of agreement. As much as he wanted to avoid provoking Lucas further, removing themselves from this volatile situation was the wisest course of action for now.
Priyank kept a supportive arm around Priya, murmuring reassuringly to her as they prepared to make their exit. Levi and Rish hovered nearby, sickened expressions slowly giving way to grim determination.
For a tense moment, Lucas looked like he might protest. But finally he gave a curt nod. “Very well. We’ll reconvene at a later date.” Though his words were accommodating, his eyes burned with anger and something else… calculation, perhaps.
Maya didn’t break his gaze as she replied, “Until then, Alpha.” She laced the title with the barest hint of sarcasm before turning on her heel and leading the others out, leaving Lucas to deal with the fallout of this grim discovery.