I could hear Farah giggle at my stomachs noises as we walked into the kitchen. I wasted no time in plucking a fresh strawberry muffin from the basket and refilling my now empty coffee mug. I seen Farah grab a danish and some fruit piled on a platter, and bring it with us, to the kitchen area off to the right in a room of its own.
It was a smaller dining area that led to some very large glass doors, and out onto a covered patio area that sat just in front of the gardens. It was cozier than the formal dining room for so many reasons, equipped with several larger chairs, and a larger bench to rest on as the doors let in the view from outside. It felt like you could have family moments here, where the dining room seemed too formal and suffocating, never allowing for enjoyment.
“Today… is a good day…” I struggled to get out as I was taking a large bite of the muffin. My eyes were closed as I fully took in the taste. Strawberry muffins had to be my ultimate favorite food. There was something about the way our chef made them, they completed me! They were dense but fluffy, packed with flavour, and had some type of magical crumble moment happening on top that was about as addictive as you could get.
“So it seems…. “ Farah cheekily said in a hushed tone as she raised an eyebrow at me. I wasn’t sure why she was being so coy until I smelt that citrus and cedar scent. It instantly smelt like home, like a safety blanket I could carry with me and lean on no matter what.
“I’m not sure Avi," Theo's voice boomed, "I think your future mate is going to have some competition… let’s hope the poor guy doesn’t ban you from those muffins out of jealousy!”
“He might have to,” I joked back, “this could be it for me… this could be better then s-“ I stopped in my tracks as Rowan entered, my face instantly heating.
“Please… don’t stop on my account,” he laughed, “unless you and the muffin need the room,” he put his hands up defensively and jokingly backed up a few steps, sending Theo and Farah into a fit of laughter.
Theo and Farah were still laughing when I noticed Rowans deep brown eyes hadn’t left mine, that is, until he scanned down. Suddenly aware of how little I was wearing I could feel my heartbeat pick up pace. My darling big bro didn’t miss a beat either. I could tell he picked up on it, and picked up on Rowans’ darkened eyes, even though Rowan tried – horribly – to play it off by sweeping his hands through his dirty blonde hair and looking outside as if something had caught his attention.
Saved by my mother. “Good morning everyone,” her voice drew my brothers attention away, “Alpha,” she nodded as she swept past him. She was smaller like I was, but had dark grey eyes almost, if they weren't so bright. A illuminated silver color that Theo inherited from her, but he got almost everything else from our father. I scanned over her perfectly put together outfit and noticed the muffin in her hand, instinctively licking my lips as mine were already gone.
Her mothering tone came out, “Oh for goddess sake,” she sighed tossing the muffin my way. As I caught it, her eyes widened, and I knew it was coming. I got up from the table, and just as I was pulling Farah’s arm with me, she said it.
“Octavia Lennox!” Another, more familiar, mothering tone chilling me to my core as I turned slowly to meet her gaze, but her gaze was solely on my choice of outfit. She knew I hated it when she called me by my full name, but her eyes were swirling a bit darker now, so I stood in silence. She was more and more horrified the more she looked, her face going from disappointment, to annoyance, and and finally anger.
I pleaded before she could scold me, “Mom please, no one will be here for a few days.” I knew my outfit was acceptable for any other time of year, and I was too preoccupied this morning to realize how much it would be pushing the limits this close to the Carnival when we could have visitors in the house soon.
Theo rubbed his forehead and back down over his face in an annoyed fashion. He cut our mom off from whatever she was about to say, his voice ringing out in authority, loud even when he tried to be quiet with his empathizing tone.
“Avi, I was too distracted by the muffin nonsense, but Mom is right,” he paused looking right at me as I tried to plead with my eyes and hope he would side with me, but his stare only intensified. He knew he couldn’t ‘make me’ submit as I was part of the Alpha family, but he also knew I loved him dearly and would always head his words because I trusted him. Rowan and Farah were now posed as Betas and Gammas should, with their heads down, and the sudden power shift in the room made me stand taller.
Theo approached me at a slow, unsettling pace….
MYLO “Isabelle will be stripped of her powers until she is determined to not be a threat anymore,” Xander informed us. The room had been cleared of everyone but the royals, myself, Dahlia and Nora. “We have someone in Shadow Forest who can accomplish it and make sure it’s maintained,” Brianna said as she assessed me, “your father informed us that you would like the right to end Marcus’s life. Are you positive that you want to bear that burden, that you have thought about having to tell Nora in the future?” “We have,” I glanced down at Dahlia and Nora. “It’s my job to protect them, no one else should have to burden themselves with Marcus’s death. Nora will understand, if she cares to ask, that it was her life or his.” “With me then,” Xander motioned for me to fol
BRIANNA I was hesitant to keep my heirs in here for this, but the boys assured me they needed to see. Orion explained the nature of what was about to happen to Mylo and Dahlia who have both chosen to join us. “I’d like my mate to join me,” Marie’s timid voice rang out, “but if that’s not something you’d prefer, I would still like to remain.” Seeing as though Octavia would just fill him in later anyways, I gave her a nod of approval and Timber’s Beta was charged with keeping Nora safe in the next room. When Marcus came into the room, there was a shift in energy, as was to be expected, but when Terran entered the room, Dixon became visibly stiff. I knew Dixon had issues surrounding Fae, but to see such a strong immediate reaction was surprising. I guess he didn’t know that Marie’s mate was Fae until now.
BRIANNA Alaric may have felt like Nixon’s outburst was harmless, but anytime he let his powers slip was dangerous. I wanted to talk to him about it, not that it would change anything, but I also felt like I had talked about it with him until I was blue in the face. Nixon wanted to let his powers loose, he had been practicing with them lately, and I knew Octavia could help him to an extent, but it just seemed too dangerous to let his secret out. How many species would come for him? How would we stop them or protect him? Not only that, but I know from experience the hunger for controlling power killed my parents, Dez’s parents, and most of what should have been my pack. The problem was that he was too carefree, too powerful, and getting too old now for us to hold him back.
MYLOSomething happened between Nixon and Terran, what I wasn’t sure, but we could find out about it later when we had privacy.My mother scooped up Nora instantly when everyone made their way to the tables, positioning herself across from us, beside Brianna.“I’m glad to see your sister’s mate,” Xander started as he glanced down to where they sat at the far end of the table from us, “doesn’t insult easily.”“He’s used to dealing with my brother’s,” I smiled, “and he is mated to Marie.”“You’re too hard on her,” Wyatt laughed as he pulled Brianna into his lap, “what did you expect with parents like yours,&rdqu
TERRANMylo tried to prepare me for meeting their royals, and although they were something to take notice of, they clearly didn’t have the same effect on me as they did on everyone else. Marie was already wound tighter than cramped roots over everything that was going on, but when they walked in, every hair on her body stood at attention. Once they were in front of her, her energy shifted again as she dropped into a calm state that I hadn’t been able to get her to since the Marcus and Izzy incident.The kings were just how they described them, beastly in their appearance, dead inside if their facial expressions were any indication. Other than a side smile to the Luna, they were basically emotionless, standing by like psychopaths just waiting to be unleashed by their queen.When the heirs were introdu
DAHLIA I jolted at the sound when one of the kings cleared his throat. Watching the Queen be smitten with Nora was bringing a new level of comfort and happiness to me, a product I’m sure of the loyalty their blood brought out in me. It was a weird emotion to identify, but I felt in debt to them somehow when I’d only just met them, like any negative thought I could muster to think was suddenly gone and replaced with an intense need to appease them. My whole body seemed so relaxed now, a stark contrast to moments before they walked in, and it was easy to get swept away in watching the Queen take in Nora, so much so that I forgot anyone else was in the room with us. “You’ll have to excuse Brianna,” he started as he picked up my hand and kissed the top of it, “she’s apparently lost her mind now that a baby is
DAHLIAI was a nervous train wreck even though I tried not to let it show. I held my head steady as we walked into the packhouse, every wolf we passed looking at us with caution as we passed by.‘Your instincts are correct,’ Mylo linked me as he squeezed my hand slightly when we entered the dining area, ‘but you are safe here, so try to enjoy yourself, Luna.’‘That was definitely not the impression you just gave to Terran,’ I linked back as I caught sight of his parents. After he was done re-explaining things to Terran, I felt as though I had been given the child version of his warnings.&lsq
MYLO When Marie and Terran arrived they were escorted to an accommodation close to us to get settled in. Dahlia was pacing back and forth as I fed Nora. Anxious, like myself, to get the next few days over with, but it shouldn’t be long before Alderic is back to get ready for supper. Supper would be a good distraction for her as she focuses on the royals, but it posed another level of worry for me. While the royals never posed a threat to us before, Wyatt was unpredictable at best and I haven't had contact with the heirs often enough to be able to judge their behaviours. Dahlia's eyes were slightly glossed over as she 'tidied' up the place, pausing at one point and staring out of one of the windows at the front.I pla
MYLO “Is she pissed?” Alderic asked as I stepped outside to wait for Dahlia. “No,” I shook my head, “but you’re lucky SHE was the one who submitted you.” “Yea that one’s on me,” he shook his head, "all this Alpha energy is making Leto brazen. You'd think he'd be the opposite, I mean he's no coyote," he looked at me and laughed lightly, tucking his hands into his pockets, "but he's used to being around it, we've done things like this since we were kids." Leto had a history of trying to outrank other leaders so it didn’t come to me as a surprise. What mattered most to me was that he was already tempering Leto before Dahlia made him submit and that I knew when it came down to it that he would lay down his life for her and Nora.