Garden Dinner Party

I was caressing my cheeks with an ointment that the nurse gave me. The ointment helped suppress the dreadful pains, that was oozing out of my head. Overall, my mind was at peace, and I loved it. I just wanted to enjoy my little euphoria while it lasts.

For the first time in a long time, I was far away from the Alpha’s chamber, and Menelik’s stiff face, which haunts me just by looking at it. I’ve learned my lesson the hard way, and henceforth, I’ll try my best not to look at his face, at all. 

“Hey, Calista.” I heard a strong masculine voice behind me, and I immediately hid my ointment. I had forgotten that I was still in the hospital. I looked around, and I didn’t see anyone. 

“Hey, I want you, in the Alpha’s chamber, right now. I give you 30 seconds to get here.” When I heard the voice again, I realized that it was Menelik that just spoken to me. He mindlinked me, and he wanted me to get to the Alpha’s chamber, in thirty seconds. 

It was a long way out for goodness sake, I don’t know how he wants me to leave the pack clinic and get to the Alpha’s chamber, in thirty freaking seconds. Did he expect me to shift to a wolf form, and run at an astonishingly fast pace? Even if I wanted to shift, I wouldn’t be able to, because I was wolfless. If I am correct, today is my eighteenth birthday, and I haven’t yet shifted to a wolf once. So, I was wolfless. 

Today being my eighteenth birthday, I was happy to have finally come of age. Many werewolves get mated at this age, and I understood that I was also eligible to be mated to another wolf, but I wasn’t looking forward to finding my mate. I don’t know if I will meet my mate today, but I don’t care if I do. After all, if I meet my mate, he might not accept me, because I’m just an omega.

I jumped up from the bed, at an instant. I took the bag that contains the gift that Fiona gave me, and I immediately exited the pack clinic. I didn’t mind if I was still wearing a tattered and smelly cloth, I just wanted to get to Menelik’s presence in the next possible second.

I wanted to sprint at the top of my lungs, but my body didn’t just agree with me. I paused for a moment, and I asked myself, “Is it worth it?”, “What could he possibly do if I get there some minutes late?” He would just probably send me back to the clinic with a few punches, and I’ll be more than happy to come back here since peace of mind is guaranteed here.

I continued my walk unhurriedly, and at my own pace. After all, it’s slow and steady, that wins the race.

The pack house was segmented into Chambers, and the higher the rank of a werewolf, the bigger and better the werewolf’s chamber. The house was a five-storey building, and the high-ranking members of the pack lived at the last storey, but the Alpha’s Chambers were still above. The Alpha, Barak Brooks, and his family lived in the penthouse, which sat comfortably on top of the pack house.

The pack clinic was on the first floor, so I had to walk up the stairs, with my frail body to the Alpha’s chamber. I finally reached the chamber, and I met Menelik and Malik chattering in the sitting room.

I kept my bag, at the entrance, to avoid a possible, barrage of questions and punishment from Menelik.

When I finally stood before them, I intentionally coughed to announce my presence, because it seemed that they didn’t notice that I was standing before them, “Here am I.” I bowed my head; I didn’t want to look anyone of them in the face. They must have noticed my presence, but they probably just chose to ignore me.

“After that little injury, you went to the clinic, right? If you had a bigger one, I’m sure that you’ll just take a flight for a session with the moon goddess.” Menelik chortled menacingly.

Wow! He’s even making jest of the injury he inflicted on me. Well, if I said that I expected otherwise, I’ll surely be lying. Was I even conscious to be able to walk down the stairs, let alone walk myself to the clinic? I just wanted to listen to all he has to say, hence I’ll be finally free to get out of his presence. Thank goodness, that he didn’t punish me, for coming late.

“You’re the laziest thing I’ve ever seen. I mean... if I didn’t call you now, I know you’ll still be seated at the Clinic, busy doing nothing?” Menelik blasted. I just fixed my gaze on the floor, while Menelik kept on blaring in his characteristic demeaning manner. “I have always known that you were a slothful and indolent being, and you deserve whatever comes your way.” 

“Take it easy on her, Menelik,” Malik interjected. “You know she’s just recovering, and that injury must have cut deep into her skin. I mean look at her scars.”

Upon hearing Malik’s voice, I unintentionally raised my head, and I gazed at Malik. His brows were slightly wrinkled, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he intended to say nice things to me, or if he just wanted to aim a slight dig at me.

Menelik took a cup of water and gulped the contents into his throat. 

“We want to hold a Pre-Full Moon garden dinner party…” Malik was about to finish this statement, when Menelik interrupted, by angrily spitting a mouthful of water onto my body. 

“Why do you stink so much.” He exclaimed. I instinctively started to take some step backward, because, in situations like these, all hell could break loose, and he could beat me to a pulp. I had a chance to take my bath at the clinic, but I was afraid to do it, I didn’t want cold water to run down the bruises on my fragile face, and I dint even know that I stunk to this extent.

“Just get the hell outta here, before I lose my temper,” Menelik ordered with a menacing voice. I was sure he could no longer contain my presence, and if I lingered still, I would surely get myself into more trouble. So, I started to leave the sitting room with some serious urgency, but Malik called out at me.

“Hey! come here. Listen to what I have to say.” Malik yelled. I stopped in my tracks, and my eyes widened in shock, I didn’t know who to obey amongst the two of them and I couldn’t risk disobeying either of them. So, I turned my back and gazed at the two of them from afar. I couldn’t afford to bow my head down this time around. Menelik was raging, like a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment, and I didn’t want him to be unleashed upon me, so I kept my distance and listened to what Malik had to say.

“As I was saying, we want to host a garden dinner party. So, go to the kitchen and prepare the food that’ll be served to everyone at the dinner party. At sunset, everything must be ready. Do you understand?” Malik asked, furrowing his brow.

“Yes, I do,” I responded, and I headed swiftly to the kitchen. ‘Well, this is gonna be a long day.’ I muttered to myself.

I got to the kitchen and commenced processing the food. The warriors had stocked the kitchen with a lot of raw, uncooked food, and I had to prepare them all into something edible. I often wonder if Menelik and the rest of the pack members were not afraid, that I could get infuriated enough to the extent that I’ll poison the food, and their lives would be gone in a flash.

Well, I guess, I wouldn’t dare to do that, because if I do, both the evil and good werewolves in the pack, would be exterminated and that would be gravely annihilating. And if I target certain individuals, the deed would be traced back to me, and that won’t do me any good. Well, if I single-handedly wipe out this pack, that won’t ever be equal to what Menelik and other pack members are doing to me, and I would not want to do that because they’re still some wolves that I care about in the pack. 

I was soon done with cooking, and as expected, I was sore and worn out, but my heart got completely wrenched, when I knew that I was the one that was going to serve the food to the guests. 

Despite the clenching pain, I was feeling internally. I had no choice but to get up, put myself together and continue my work.

***

The lawns and flower beds had been meticulously trimmed as the sun was setting, putting a lovely glow over the garden. There was a long table set out with fine porcelain and shining crystal on it, all covered in a bright white tablecloth.

The dinner party was to be held in a garden, which had been decorated with glittering lights hanging from the trees and dining tables to create a scene straight out of a fairy tale, and as the visitors settled down at the lengthy tables, a live band quietly played calming music in the background.

The Alpha and Beta of the pack, Barak Brooks and Ras Tafari, arrived first. The remaining pack members and their friends then arrived. Malik was busy with the party’s last preparations while the others chatted and caught up with one another. Malik was blind, but he wasn’t pampered. He could do a lot of things on his own, even more, than what a creature with two functioning eyes could do.

His elder brother, Menelik on the other hand himself, welcomed the guests as they arrived. Menelik, himself is a tall, attractive man with piercing blue eyes and a wonderful smile. I dislike describing him in this manner, but I guess I’m just stating the obvious.

The chat continued throughout the evening as the pack members caught up on all the rumors and news. While Ras Tafari, the Beta provided the gathering with the most recent information on the pack’s booming businesses.

Menelik stepped up to greet the visitors as they took their places at the long table set out in the garden. “I specially welcome, the Alpha, my beloved Father, Alpha Barak Brooks, and the Luna, my beloved mother, Olivia Brooks, other dignitaries present in this garden, and my innumerous dear friends present,” He said with a smile. I just couldn’t quantify how proud Menelik must be, he couldn’t even acknowledge the famous beta, Ras Tafari. Well, hmm…

“I am so glad that you could join us tonight for this special occasion. Yeah, we call it, the Pre-Full-Moon Dinner party. We have a wonderful evening planned for you, with delicious food, entertainment, and of course, the company of our dear pack members.” He continued, and the guests clapped and cheered as Menelik sat down.

At that instant, I brought out the first course. I served them all, and as they enjoyed the delicious food, conversations flowed freely among the guests.