The dinner disaster

Chapter 3: The Dinner Disaster

Dinner with the Black River wolves felt like walking into a very unfriendly lion’s den, but with extra forks and a lot more glaring.

Calla smoothed her dress for the third time, glaring at her reflection in the ceiling to floor mirror. “Okay, Calla. You are not a sad potato. You are strong... mildly terrified potato. But at least you’ve got seasoning.”

She stepped out of her wing, trailed by two silent guards who looked like they’d been carved from stone and trained to frown at joy. As she walked through the halls, whispers floated behind her like perfume.

“She’s the bride?”

“She looks so... soft.”

“Bet she cries during thunderstorms.”

Calla spun on her heel. “I cry during happy thunderstorms, thank you very much.”

But the guards were silent and didn’t even blink.

Dominic waited at the long dining table, looking like a dark god seated at the head. Everyone else pack members in various shades of leather and intimidation went quiet the second Calla entered.

She tried to smile. “Lovely evening, isn’t it?”

But no one said anything, nothing. So Dominic gestured stiffly. “Sit.”

She sat. Straight across from him. Because of course she would be seated right under his death-glare.

Food was served, meat. Just... meat. No salad, no bread. Just a plate of Very Intimidating Roast Beast.

Calla poked it with her fork.

Dominic’s low voice cut through the silence. “Any problems?”

“Just wondering where the vegetables went. Did they offend someone?”

A few wolves choked on their drinks.

Dominic stared at her, utterly strong face. “You don’t like meat?”

“I love meat,” she replied. “But balance is key. A little greenery never hurt anyone.”

“It’s not rabbit food night.”

She grinned. “Noted.”

Across the table, a woman sneered. “Humans are so delicate.”

Calla blinked. “I stubbed my toe this morning and survived. That’s resilience.”

Her words were too funny that one of the wolf started coughing into his wine.

Dominic’s jaw twitched. He didn’t laugh nor did he smile. But there was a tiny flicker in his eye, like he didn’t completely hate her guts. Yet.

Halfway through dinner, the room fell into an awkward silence, with only the clinking of cutlery and occasional sniffs. So naturally, Calla decided to ruin it.

“So, Dominic,” she said sweetly. “Are we going to talk about how you stole my wedding?”

Forks dropped, and someone gasped. A fork even stabbed into the table.

Dominic went stiff, tuning his gaze to Calla. “That’s not a topic for tonight.”

“Oh, I think it is,” she said, firing off more questions. “You dragged me here, and forced a bond contract on me, locked me in a palace with zero snacks, and now I get death glares for wanting a carrot.”

“Calla—”

“Don’t Calla me like you’re the reasonable one. You show up at my wedding like a broody backup groom, and I’m supposed to smile and behave? Please.”

A low growl rippled through the table.

Dominic stood slowly. The room became stilled. Calla swore even the candles stopped flickering.

“Disrespect me again in front of my pack,” he said, his voice like thunder, “and you’ll learn exactly why they fear me.”

Calla stood, matching his height with pure stubbornness. “Then maybe stop acting like I’m your prisoner instead of your wife.”

Dead silence continued from the pack members. 

Then, Dominic slammed his hands on the table so hard the plates jumped.

“Enough.”

But Calla didn’t flinch. She just stared back at him, her pulse pounding, and every nerve on fire.

He didn’t say another word, he simply just turned and walked out of the room, his coat billowing behind him like a villain in a soap opera.

The rest of the pack stared at Calla like she’d just declared war on Christmas.

“Nice meeting you all,” she muttered, before turning and walking out the other door.

Back in her room, Calla paced, looking furious. “He’s lucky he’s hot. Stupid infuriating Alpha man with his stupid brooding eyes and... and... cheekbones.”

She threw herself onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.

Minutes passed. Then hours.

She waited for him to come yell at her again.

But he didn’t.

There was no knock, no shout and no visit.

That, somehow, made her angrier.

She ripped off the pretty dress, and threw on pants and boots, and muttered, “I’m going for a walk. Try and stop me, you sour-faced security statues.”

The guards, as expected, followed wordlessly.

Outside, the moon glowed brightly, and the wind blew her hair into her face as she walked. She needed to move or she was going to lose her mind in that pack house.

She crept past the outer courtyard. Then into the woods.

Then... she ran.

She didn’t know what she was running from. Or to. But her feet hit the earth like they were looking for answers.

The howls came minutes later.

“Crap.”

She turned to go back only to run into a wall of muscle and cold fury.

Dominic.

“What the hell are you doing out here?” he growled.

“I needed air!” she snapped. “Have you ever tried being me for a day? It sucks!”

“You’re not allowed past the perimeter.”

“I’m not a dog on a leash, Dominic.”

He bared his teeth. “No. You’re worse. You’re a liability.”

“Then why marry me?”

His eyes flared. “Because Theo is an idiot who left you unprotected!”

“And you’re my knight in snarling armor?”

He snarled. Literally.

Calla took a step back. “Do it. Growl again. Maybe it’ll make you feel better.”

Then he tackled her.

One second she was glaring, the next she was pinned beneath him, the weight of him pressing into her like a threat.

“Are you going to kill me now?” she hissed.

He didn’t answer.

He Just stared at her, breathing hard with clenched jaws and eyes burning fury.

Then...

He blinked. The rage flickered, and for half a second, she saw something else. Pain, or confusion?

Then he snapped back, lifting himself off her like she was on fire.

“Go back,” he growled. “Now.”

Calla sat up, looking dazed. “Dominic…”

“Go.”

She stood slowly. “You’re not nearly as scary when you’re trying not to care.”

He didn’t look at her, he Just turned and stalked off into the trees.

Back in the estate, her room felt colder.

She pulled the blanket around herself, with her eyes wide open.

There was something very, very wrong about this whole marriage thingy. But also... something she hadn’t expected.

He wasn’t heartless, but it felt like he was hiding something.

Tomorrow, she’d find out what.

And maybe, just maybe, she’d stop being the silent doll he thought he’d married.