Hall of Supper

"Now what do we do with her?" 

Albera looks at Nyx with worried eyes, I know what's going on in her mind. Currently she's lying on my bed, we helped her stitching the leg wound and bandaging it up, it's not that serious so it will heal soon. She's been sleeping for an hour, after being unconscious, I hope she won't misunderstand the situation when she wakes up. 

"The wolf she fought with is definitely stronger than her," Albera indicates at the wound. "Otherwise she wouldn't have been hurt."

"Fought? She could have been attacked."

"That maybe the case so, but there's blood stains in her nails and that wouldn't be hers. She injured the other wolf too, but that was stronger so it ran away." 

I sigh, "The other wolf couldn't be from our pack, could it?" 

"I don't know that. I don't detect any pheromones from her, must be because of our separate bloodlines."

But I can sense her pheromones. Why's that? 

"Well, you gotta make sure no one comes in your den," Albera alerts me. "And when she wakes up, you should help her get back to her pack safely. It's gonna cause a rackus if anyone finds out she's here."

"Yeah, I understand," I nod. 

~

At the vast dining hall, various types of foods and utensils are being arranged. Tonight is a special night, because various important persons from all around the pack will come to join dinner, sometimes have a discussion or meeting. And along with my four brothers, I have to be present at the dinner too, at all cost, as a son of the lead Alpha of Crescent Moon pack.

But I'm beginning to get worried since Nyx is still in my den, alone. I left a note explaining the situation as politely as possible, but it seems like she's getting weaker. I won't be shocked if her enemy wolf used silverine teeth to attack her and it's poisoning her blood. Maybe I should privately assign a doctor to examine her before midnight. After midnight wolves normally go hunting, so it'll be too dangerous for Nyx to go back to her pack. Maybe she could stay for a few days here? Or maybe somewhat disguise her? I'm not sure, as I look at the servant girls arranging the tables, I'm feeling impatient.

But why am I also so worried for her? She's from an enemy pack, so I should consider her as that. I've known her for so little time, but I still can't bring myself to think of her as my enemy. 

"What's got you so lost, brother?" a deep, charming voice breaks the thread of my thoughts. It's Charles, one of my elder brothers, also known as the heartthrob of the town due to his charisma. I eye him upside down, perfectly ironed sleeveless coat, white cotton shirt with folded hands till the elbows, messily brushed dark hair, muscular yet athletic figure with trained jawline. No wonder most of the girls are so head over heel for him. 

"I saw you at the Central library today, hovering in the pile of fucking books," he scoffs, apparently he thinks that werewolves shouldn't be too nerdy since it's not like their nature. "Why would a werewolf read such useless things, when he should be tearing apart the guts of the enemy wolves? Listen, we're holding a hunting trip this weekend, with some of my friends. Why don't you join in?" he pats my shoulder while chuckling. Man, he's excessively strong. 

"I apologise, I'm not interested," I put up a fake polite smile. "But why were you at the library?" 

"Oht, you don't say. I met this hot librarian a few days ago...." blah blah blah, then he kept blabbering about how he's going to get her in his bed and then leave her after he's done. The moment I'm at the edge of losing all of my patience, my father Alpha Jonathan raises his glass, making all the people at the hall quiet. 

"Everyone," his scary deep voice echoes at the hall, all eyes on him. "Tonight is the 267th Hall of Supper session since our Crescent Moon pack was created. Numerous important people of our pack have gathered here tonight, so I must share a news that'll only achieve greater things for our community," he chuckles, a mysterious cloud of emotion playing in his eyes. 

Whispering clamour begins among people at the hall, they look excited yet curious to know what the news might be. Maybe it's a war declaration against an enemy pack or some kind of ceremony. 

Father indicates his glass at Charles, who is standing stiffly beside me, "I'm very happy to announce the marriage ceremony of my second eldest son Charles and the only daughter of Blood Moon pack lead Alpha, Nyx. The ceremony is going to be held two days from now on, at the night of full moon!" 

Suddenly I don't hear the cheers and howls celebrating the so-called happy news. I don't see how all the blood is vanished from Charles's face, like he's anemic. I don't hear Albera desperately calling my name from behind. 

All I know is I have to get the fuck out of that hall and get back to my den.

~

The almost full moon and the rage inside is pressuring me to let my wolf out, it's now like a hungry, wild beast inside a cage. Nothing is making sense right now, but I can't transform into my wolf, I keep telling myself that in my subconscious. If I let him out, I'm pretty sure that I'll destroy the pack along with myself. 

Blood. The smell of her blood. She's awake.

I have to calm myself down. 

I enter the den slowly, letting her know that it's me by releasing my pheromones. She's sitting up on my bed, her hair all messy but beautiful, she looks up at me with lost eyes. 

"Alpha Lorenzo," she tries to get up to greet me, but I stop her. "No need to be courteous. You are wounded."

"I assume this is your den? Did you find me?" She doesn't look like she wants answers, she can already guess that. She looks like she's thinking about something. Soon the wondered mind turns into an angry mess, she grits her teeth looking at the bandage around her leg. 

"Who did you have a fight with? Someone from your pack? I ask, crossing my arms. 

"Sorry, but none of your business," Nyx winces slightly as she stands up. "I need to get back to my pack as soon as possible." 

"Well, are you?" I scoff. "You sure you don't wanna pay a visit to your soon-to-be mate before going back? Who knows maybe he's waiting for you in his room."

She frowns, sensing my anger. "What are you talking about?" 

"Don't play dumb, Nyx," I fail to calm my voice. 

"I don't understand," she genuinely sounds confused. "If you're talking about something about from past, you then have to excuse me since I'm not really interested in that topic." 

"No, I'm not talking about Noah."

"Rumors are really like fire, they spread quicker than we can imagine," she murmurs under her breath. 

"I'm talking about Charles, my brother." 

"Yeah what about him?" She pulls out a black cloak from my self, putting it on. 

"He's going to be your mate after two days. Father announced the news tonight in front of everyone," I can't even speak normally, feeling overwhelmed. 

She flinches. "So that's why my father visited your family." 

"How come you're not shocked? I thought you'd be screaming right now after hearing that your family is marrying you off without your permission," the surprised feeling takes over my anger. 

"My family can do the worst things possible, I'm aware of that," she sighs, then looks at the door with hurried expression. "I really have to go back right now. So many unfinished works need to be finished." 

There are those pheromones again. Vengeful, angry, but planned and determined. 

"Well, then I'm going with you," I pull another black cloak from the racks. "I can't let you go alone, Alphaess Nyx."