Wolf Teeth || Book I : Summer {M/M} ❄

Chapter #26

Sashes of white and gold festooned the great halls of Kolraga. Sunflowers, taller than men, stood in elaborate displays like blossoming trees. Sprays of summer flowers decorated tables laden with food. The Alphas sat at a head table, where an enormous set of moose antlers served as centrepiece, fruits dripping from the broad tines.

Oryen recalled, with an ache of nostalgia, the simple but delicious spread Aryeta had set for them. He wanted this to go well, but a huge and hungry part of his heart wished that only Lazro waited for him, not the hungry eyes of every Alpha in Mardero.

Beau's threats loomed larger than before. Oryen felt thick as a plank for having wondered if Beau's grudge had softened, if removing the tattoo had been a sign of sympathy. Bonding over the shared guilt of hurting one another.

Clearly, that was about as accurate as an arrow shot by a drunk in a hurricane.

Before Oryen made progress into the hall, Aryeta found him. She had a basket of flowers in hand and a crown of them on her head.

"There you are!" She gave him the up and down. "Looking very fresh."

Oryen couldn't help a smile. "So are you. What are those?"

"Dogwood flowers! Put one under your pillow at the end of the night, and you'll dream of your soulmate. Here." She took one from the basket and secured it in the tight curls of Oryen's hair.

"Do I look pretty?"

"Very. I shouldn't hold you up, though. Go see your big bro. And save a dance for me!"

He went, hurried along by a few slaps on the shoulder from her.

At the head table, Lazro stood, a gold sash across his chest. His smile flashed at the sight of Oryen. Next to him was Reyz, smiling just as brightly and waving him over. If it were not for them both, Oryen might have turned and left, because the expressions of the others had a sobering effect. Like someone chopping sausages while you tried to watch porn.

He recognized Kalysto first, her blonde hair plaited with teal ribbons and tied around her head like a crown. On the left side of the table sat a severe, older woman with eyeliner sharp enough to slit throats. To her right, a man with a face like the cartography of a map—all lines and wrinkles from every expression he'd ever made, of which frowns made up a good percentage.

Lazro reached Oryen and clasped him in a tight hug. "Happy Sun's End."

Reyz clapped him on the back too. "Glad you could make it. You wouldn't want to miss the food. Lazro really pulled out all the stops."

Lazro smiled and said, "I can't take any of the credit. Zarkerya did all the organising for the event."

Zarkerya, the severe woman, smiled. It gave her mouth a pursed V shape. "It was nothing."

"You've met most of us, actually, but let me introduce you to these two," Lazro said. "Well, you've just met Zarkerya. She's the lovely Alpha of Qaelish and takes care of events like this one."

"Yes, always the life of the party," said Kalysto, voice dripping with its usual sepulchral poison. Zarkerya seemed neither surprised nor bothered.

Lazro moved on through the introductions. "This is Tavell, Zarkerya's husband and Alpha of the Qaelish. He's been very keen to meet you."

So this was the man Beau wanted him to butter up. Tavell stood and extended his hand, which Oryen shook. Despite his age, Tavell's grip was iron. "Very pleased to finally meet our leader's dear brother." He had the air of a man meeting his daughter's boyfriend for the first time. Oryen could imagine him loading shotgun shells and asking, 'What are your intentions regarding my Elizabeth?'