Chapter 119
A bell rang behind a wall and two more doors opened through which five servers walked in a line holding big silver trays filled with plates. Against the left wall of the room was an oval table that had been set with silverware and long candles in silver holdings with small flickering flames. Everything looked expensive and thoughtfully planned out.
The men all took their seats whereas I was still standing, staring into Zade’s eyes and wondering where my voice went when my tongue twisted in my mouth.
“Hazel,” Gabe’s voice broke my train of thought and pulled me back.
It only took one lingering gaze to know that he’d heard our conversation and something flashed in Zade’s eyes when he left to take a seat.
“Are you okay?” Gabe asked.
No, I wanted to go home and find my sister and never be near another man again. I wanted to find a cottage deep in the woods on the border between packs where nobody decided the rules but me- that’s what I wanted. That’s what I was; not okay but desperate for peace away from the madness that somehow had become my life.
“Yeah,” I nodded.
He put his hand on my lower back and guided me to the table.
We took our seats and everyone fell quiet, like the flicker of a flame before it’s blown out, and then darkness ensues.
Everyone turned to us, their eyes filled with a scolding judgment and brimming hatred but on what grounds?
It wasn’t that things had been bad under the Lycan’s rule, the Council still had powerful voices that were recognized far and wide so it didn’t make sense, this newfound hatred for Royalty.
“Gabriel,” one of the men rustled out.
I knew the older ones, they looked like sun-dried prunes and spoke like their words were law. Then there were the younger males, mid-thirties- early forties perhaps. They were being groomed into taking over after having spent most of their lives protecting Valeria as members of the Dark Guard.
“Ah, that’s right, King Darian’s brother. The Lycan prince,” another one cooed, I recognized him from the palace- his name was Augustine.
The men dug in and started eating while the servers left the room. Not one person entering or leaving was a woman. The only girls in here were me and the four that sat in each corner.
The Council members were always men and as far as I knew they loved the concept of the Hunt and were pro tradition.
They counted down the days like you did to a holiday; they often had more than one mate and relished in the meetings with women elsewhere whenever the opportunity presented itself.
It was clear as day that I’d held them in too high esteem- they didn’t deserve half the praise they were getting out there from everyone who looked up to them like they were the gods’ answer to our prayers.
Everyone ate and made chilly small talk but it was clear that the only reason they didn’t try to rip our heads off was because they enjoyed having the upper hand. Once everyone finished their meals, the Elder leaned back in his chair and lifted his hands.
The older Councilmen wiped their mouths and threw their napkins on the plates before they rose from their seats and exited the room with content smiles and restful eyes.
“MarryBell had a fine selection of girls, of course when you ask for the best you hear that she’s at the palace, serving the King and his men.” The Elder snarled and picked his teeth with the extracted claw on his index finger.
“These girls however were, the runner-up’s and will celebrate our top-ranked Guards who will now take their step into becoming men of the Council, dedicating their lives to the cause of keeping Valeria safe and bending their knee at the feet of the gods,”
The words bubbled up faster than I could stop them and spewed from my mouth.
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Chapter 119
“Will they also be taking part in the King’s assassination?” I asked and dried the side of my mouth.
The Elder turned his head and glared warily in dissatisfaction.
“Hazel Grey, how one forgets your presence after a while,”
Dick.
“Every Council member is aware of circumstances regarding King Darian. Now please, let’s celebrate,” his voice was eerily calm and he didn’t avert his eyes. The girls didn’t move from their positions and neither did any of the men, they sat still with raised heads and cold, almost dead, looks in their eyes.
Gabe and I shared a look and then I instinctively looked at Zade who sat on the other side of the table. He leaned back in his chair with his hands resting on the tablecloth.
The door cracked open and waves of loud cursing pierced through the air- I stiffened in the chair and looked with widened eyes as the door opened further.
A member of the Dark Guard walked in holding a woman by her hair and her screams rippled through the room and cut through the tension like a diamond- carved blade. The Guard threw her down on the floor and when she turned around, yelling profanities and wishing him death, he spat in her face.
I pushed the chair back and was about to rise when Gabe’s claws dug into my thigh and pinned me back down.
“Interfere and I will kill you myself,” he seethed while the others were preoccupied with watching the woman scramble on the floor under the big Guard.
I heaved a breath and gritted my teeth but upon drawing a deep breath I noticed that smell, it was the same one I’d smelled at the palace, it was a smell I couldn’t place and I realized now why that was.
This woman wasn’t a werewolf, she’s human.
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The Alpha’s Hunt
