Chapter 7

BRYN  The steak that was prepared for me wasn't just rare, which I already disliked enough, it was practically raw. Yet Alistair North did not find any problem with it. He was sitting in front of me and gobbling piece after piece of the disgusting meat. On the other hand, what else did I expect from a werewolf? They loved the taste of blood… No wonder the pellet didn’t have much of an effect. Although I felt disappointed. “What’s the problem?” the man on the other side of the long table asked me, and judging by his facial expression, he was aware. “Is the food not to your taste?” “No.” I beamed at him. “It doesn’t look too appetising. But do not worry. I’ll have a talk with the chef here and make sure that from now on we’ll have some proper food.” Yes, that was a threat. And he choked slightly. “What kind of wolves do they have in Ruvia who don’t enjoy a little blood?” He smirked at me with a challenge, wiping his lips. “Isn’t this the whole point of being one? The anticipation, the chase, the kill, the taste of victory in your mouth…” “Honey.” I stabbed my steak with a fork and lifted it up for demonstration purposes. “A day or so ago this was a big fat cow. It wouldn’t run far even if you chased it!” His hand landed on the table with a thump, and I tried to hide my smile when his Beta cleared his throat. Yes, the Beta would be a problem. He definitely knew his Alpha’s temper, and what was worse, he knew how to talk him into behaving. We would need to take care of him, but fortunately I had a few ideas on how to do it. “So, what plans do we have in the nearest future?” I asked nonchalantly while putting the plate with the steak away and signalling to Amira to fetch me some bread and vegetables. “I am so glad that you mentioned that.” Alistair smiled at me, and I knew that he was up to something the very moment he shined his pearly whites. “How about we go to the temple and get our blessing this week? We could also ask them for permission to marry as soon as possible, or maybe even marry on the same day... I mean, we would hold a big royal wedding party, of course, but why wait to unite so long? We could already—” Yeah… Nice try. I didn’t know he wanted to marry Eiryn so badly. In fact, I was kind of hoping he didn’t want the marriage either. However, his monologue right now told me more than that big fat file that I had on him. He went on and on about how he couldn’t wait and how great it would be to marry next week. And I smiled like a perfect pretty doll, nodding from time to time. “So, what do you think?” he asked me when he was done, and I fluttered my eyelashes. “No.” I grinned at him, and that smug face of his faded. “No?” He looked like he didn’t get it and his Beta cleared his throat again. “Oh, Sir Duncan, you might need a drink,” I suggested and heard a growl. Now I knew things were getting serious. “What do you mean no?” my fake fiancé demanded, and I looked back at him. “It means what it means.” I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t want to rush things. I want to get to know you properly. I am a very traditional kind of a girl and can’t possibly marry a stranger.” “So, how long do you think it might take?” I noticed how the fork in his hand had started to bend gradually at a strange angle. “I don’t know,” I sighed. “Three, maybe four…” “Weeks?” he said hopefully. “Of course not! I mean months, silly!” I giggled. “You are so funny, Ally!” He choked on that too, and his Beta jumped up to pretend that he was helping him. “What did you call me?” His eyes glowed gold again and I felt his Alpha tone in my spine. It was impossible to ignore the energy, even though I wasn’t a wolf. “Ally!” I repeated. “Or would you prefer something else? Like Li-li? Or Airy? Or…” “I’d prefer Alistair,” he said in a grim tone. “Oh, I know!” I jumped. “Al! It’s so manly!” “I hate it.” “But you wouldn’t hate it when I call you that, right?” I looked at him with puppy eyes and I was pretty sure I heard a snort from Len, who stood behind me. The two werewolves in front of us looked like they were having a heated mental conversation. Something I needed to consider. Finish the business before they made me a part of their pack. Because no matter what I did, I wouldn’t be able to mind link them. Witches didn’t have an ability like that. “How about Ter?” Duncan asked. “Everybody close calls him that!” “Hmm…” I pretended to think and tasted the name on my tongue, giving them hope. “Ter… Ter! Ter…” “So?” The Beta looked at me with hope in his eyes. “I am not everybody.” I shook my head. “I like Al more. It’ll make us more… special to each other. Closer even!” “Fine,” the Alpha growled. “Call me whatever you like, my dear fiancée. Just let’s set this wedding date today and…” “Oh, no, no, no, Al!” I protested. “How can we speak about that when we haven’t even had our engagement ball yet?!” “Engagement…ball?” The poor man looked stunned. And he still had no idea where I was going with this. “Of course!” I clapped my hands to annoy him more. It always annoyed me when Eiryn did that. “Didn’t we have one at your house?” he groaned. “That little thing?” I rolled my eyes. “Of course not! That was more of a… tea party for the closest family.” “There were like two hundred people in there.” “Exactly. Not nearly enough to become a memorable occasion!” “And where would you like to hold this… memorable occasion?” I could just tell how hard it was for him to stay calm at that point. “Here, of course.” I giggled again. Boy, I needed another glass of water as my throat was dry from all the stupid talk and laughter. “You can’t do it here,” Alistair said firmly, and Duncan was opening his mouth to say something when I interrupted him. “I know, Al, I know.” I sighed but noticed how he didn’t relax. He had caught up with my tempo pretty fast. “What do you mean by that, darling?” he sneered. “Well, obviously… I mean that we can’t invite guests here before the renovations take place!” “Renovations?” he growled. “Renovations.” I nodded with a serious face. “Sadly, yesterday I thought that it was just the mess that made this house look… less presentable than desired. But today I have come to the realisation that we need more significant measures. As in total and complete renovation.” For a few good minutes, nobody said anything and just a pair of golden eyes stared at me. They were mind linking each other again. “You do know that it’s rude to mind link when you are not alone, Al?” I asked with a raised brow and heard a groan of annoyance. And the sound of a thud under the table. “Fine,” the fake fiancé groaned. “Everything for my beloved.” “Ah, you are just the best, Ally!” I clapped my hands again. “Oh, sorry. I know you love Al more.” He ignored that and I felt a bit disappointed. “Well, Eiryn…” “Just call me Ryn!” I interjected, knowing how much Alphas hated that. “Well, Ryn.” He was holding himself under control very well. “Whatever makes you happy here. But there are a few local events that as a couple we can’t miss.” “Of course!” I nodded. “Tell me everything, Al.” “Well, we’ll need to visit my lands so that people can meet you in person,” he started explaining. “Just a few villages will do. But the most important event for us will be the Witch Hunt.” I swallowed. “Witch Hunt?” I asked cheerfully. “What is it?” “This is…” he paused. “My father’s favourite entertainment.” “With witches?” I felt a lump forming in my throat. “I thought you hated witches in Phevran.” “We do,” he answered as if he was uncomfortable talking about it, which was interesting. “That’s why it’s a hunt…They let out the witches in the forest and…” “Hunt them.” I finished for him, feeling a chill go down my spine. “Pretty much it.” He looked away. “The king personally invited us. We can’t refuse.” “I see.” I tried to force a smile. “Witch Hunt it is, then.”