Chapter 187
The choking silence shifted when a maid rolled in a silver cart filled with food, coffee, and juices for everyone. I wasn’t sure yet what this gathering was about, but based on the cart, I doubt we’d be leaving anytime soon. If we were going to discuss the upcoming attack on the Lycan Pack, shouldn’t we do that behind closed doors in private?
Everyone jumped at the cart- we’re doing it here I guess. Darian walked over and grabbed a plate onto which he loaded waffles and fruit along with pork and pan-fried eggs.
He poured a cup of coffee and a dash of cream before he went to set it down on the table. I stood like a creepy shadow watching his every move but I swear on the gods I can’t take my eyes off him. There had been a healthy amount of attraction and physical pull between Darian and I but that was slowly growing into a downright obsession.
I was so caught up in the mouthwatering sight of him and maybe replaying a position or two from last night in my head, that I didn’t notice him grabbing my hand and leading me to the couch.
“Sit. Eat,” he said, or rather ordered.
“You made the plate for me?” I asked softly and looked up at him from the couch.
“Yes, is it not good? Do you want me to bring something else?”
I shook my head frantically and grabbed the fork.
“No it’s perfect, thank you,” he smiled and walked over to the car, passing Gabe and his glimmering gaze of mischief on the way.
“I never thought I would live to see the day when you were domesticated?” Gabe mused.
“You need that tongue for talking, brother. Do not make me rip it out,” Darian tapped his brother on the shoulder and grabbed a plate.
We talked and ate, I think all of us thought that if we put our heads together we should be able to come up with something or at the very least get a clearer picture of the situation.
I’ll give you three guesses whether or not we succeeded.
If you need another clue then maybe Gabriel banging his head back against the couch and Darian shooting daggers from his eyes at his poor waffle is a hint.
“They will come,” I said after no one had spoken in for five minutes.
Everyone turned their heads and looked at me like I was a ghost that had materialized into a person.
“Thank you for that new piece of completely useless information,” Gabe buzzed in a monotone voice.
I rolled my eyes and sighed while I put the fork down.
“I’m just saying, they will come, maybe we should let them,”
“Not an option.” Darian barked.
I narrowed my eyes and leaned forward.
“It’s not an option, it’s an inevitability. They’re coming and we should be prepared when they do. Instead of sitting here trying to figure out their plan, maybe we should do some planning ourselves,”
Why were they all staring at me like I had three heads?
They were all silent for a long while. A very, uncomfortably long while.
Until finally Lauren put her plate down and stood from the armrest she was sitting on.
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“Tam has gathered the top hundred Guards in the gym, the others are all out on their posts and we have an army of three thousand men, the humans don’t stand a chance,” she said.
She turned a heavy head and her eyes searched my face for something. I didn’t notice at first but I was narrowing my eyes right back at her.
“But Hazel is right, we need to form a plan in case of an attack,”
“They will attack,” just thought I’d clear that up for her.
There are no doubts, they are coming and we need to be prepared.
It all came down to Darian, he had to give the order but at least Lauren was on my side. Our eyes were still locked and I wondered if I looked at bitchy as I
felt.
Instead of finding out, I looked away and turned to Darian, at least then, I wouldn’t look like a jealous bitch- unless he went against what I thought in which case we’d go a more unpleasurable round than before.
“Fine. Lauren, you brief the Guards, Gabe you call the packs and tell them to brief their warriors for a possible attack,”
Possible?
What a stupid word when the correct one is definite. It was a definite attack.
Lauren left but Gabe wasn’t in as much of a rush.
He locked me down with a glare and pointed his finger.
“You don’t leave the palace alone,” he ordered.
I didn’t appreciate the tone he used or that bloody finger he was pointing but I had to remember that it came from a caring place in his bleeding heart.
“I won’t,”
He stood staring at me for a while, maybe to see if I was telling the truth which I was.
My sister was here, I couldn’t afford to take stupid risks.
After a huff, he left the room and stormed down the hallway.
“What’s my job, my King?” I asked, albeit sarcastically, which he caught. He grabbed my chin and pulled me in.
“You make sure to stay the fuck alive and out of harm’s way. That’s an order.”
“Ah, the impossible task left for the strongest,”
It was meant as a joke but his features shifted into a demanding roughness and he pinned me down with a look darker than Gabe’s.
Genes are a magical thing.
“Watch her, please,” he said to Nora, who bowed her head.
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The Alpha’s Hunt
Chapter 188
Nora and I walked around outside the castle for a while- circle after circle, and I could feel the eyes of several Guards on us the entire time. She told me about her parents, her life of abuse and neglect after they died, and how she came to care for the pups in the pack like she was their mother. It was, unfortunately quite common for rogues to perish quicker than a pack-bound wolf. Some were killed hunting for food and getting caught by warriors of other packs, while others were killed internally by the leader of said rogue pack.
It was horrific and sad but a part of their everyday life. Many pups lost their parents at a young age. Most fatalities happened during fights when the rogues tried to take over other territories.
I asked her questions about her pack and the members to try and get a clear picture but it sounded chaotic. There was no real leadership and they lived for the day rather than planning for tomorrow.
“It’s good they’re here then, right?” I said.
Her pack had been granted permission to camp inside the border of the Lycan pack a while ago and though trouble had stirred, they were still there and could relax instead of always being on guard. But Nora didn’t seem too happy about it.
“I guess,” she shrugged a creaseless shoulder but the ghosts in her eyes told me there was more. I couldn’t push her on it though, it felt wrong to pry and I could just hope that she would share it one day.
After making our fourth round around the palace I heaved a sigh and reached out for the water bottle in her hand but Nora jerked it away.
Her eyes widened a fraction and she looked startled by her own response. She was always particular about her drinks and we never shared which was fine but- I mean, I didn’t need to let my lips touch it.
“I’m thirsty,” I whined and cocked my head, “you can pour it into my mouth if you don’t want my germs,” I said.
Her stiff smile weirded me out and she giggled forcefully.
“Let’s just go inside and get you something to drink,”
I narrowed my eyes and nodded.
It was weird but we all had strange quarks. As I said, she had never been one to share- not drinks at least.
We grabbed a glass container filled with lemon water from the kitchen and the chef put a plate of chips with ground beef in front of us- he winked at me and walked back to preparing dinner.
I loaded on a good amount of meat and moaned when the flavors danced on my palette. This was my favorite thing of his, it was easy and fatty- the perfect combo.
That joyful feeling only lasted a second though before my stomach turned and the food grew in my mouth. I widened my jaw without parting my lips. I couldn’t spit it out, that would be rude and the chef was standing right there.
“Are you okay?” Nora whispered and I shook my head.
We looked around for a napkin, I refused to let her ask for one, and Nora’s face twisted in worry.
“Oh my god, you’re turning green!” She wheezed and put her hand under my mouth. “Spit it out,”
Ew no.
I shook my head- maybe I could just run to the bathroom and spit it out there. But then I felt my breakfast rushing up and I gagged. My mouth opened and
I spat the food out in Nora’s hand. She closed her fist and walked over to the trash, wiping her hands off, and closed the lid.
The meat tasted weird, maybe the chef put other spices in this time.
“Taste it,” I said and gave her a chip. Nora chewed on it and shook her head unknowingly.
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