The Brotherhood

34

Merriment and cheer were thick in the air as the festivities in the Great Hall jumped into full swing. Music flooded the Hall as the band from the village played jaunty tunes that allowed for everyone to dance in circles. Kane observed the crowd of people as they partnered up and danced around. He watched with more than a little amusement as the villagers got just as wasted as his brothers did. A few of the village girls were draping themselves all over his brothers. It wasn't atypical behavior since those in the Brotherhood were coveted for marriage proposals, yet something about it didn't sit well with Kane this time. Something about it made Kane want to wrap his arms around those girls and drag them away. Especially when they draped their arms around his less favorable brothers. 

Kane's eyes traced their way back to his pack. His brothers weren't lacking in female companionship and that wasn't just because Fin sat at their table. Each of them seemed to have  a female companion by their side. Each of them except for Sloan which brought Kane an unsensible amount of joy. Sloan talked a big talk, but he never seemed able to back it up. Kane was also happy to see that Fin was joined at their pack's table by Natalie. Kane was glad that the two of them had found each other. 

Ray approached him where he sat at the top of the dais. Ray gave Kane the biggest smile Kane had ever seen from him. Kane was ashamed to admit it but he hardly ever saw Ray smile these days. It looked as if the pressure was getting to him. Honestly, the pressure was probably getting to all of them. 

Kane smiled at Ray and inclined his head toward the table with their pack, "Where's your village companion?" 

Ray looked toward where their pack was happy and smiling, everyone together. His smile grew a little bit wider. Ray shook his head as he turned back toward Kane. Then he spoke with mirth in his voice, "Maybe they just haven't arrived yet." 

Kane laughed, a deeper laugh than he'd given in a long time. "Sure. Or maybe you've lost your touch." 

"I don't see you over here with a woman on your arm," Ray said with a raised eyebrow. He chuckled deeply, "Although, I think the woman you've got your eye on is sitting with our pack already." 

Kane looked over and met Ray's gaze. Kane loathed the look that Ray was giving him. It meant that his brothers weren't nearly as unobservant as he wished they were. The thought made him want to squirm uncomfortably which would be unbecoming for a newly minted Alpha Supreme. So Kane just stared at his second and waited for him to take back his words. Ray didn't though. It seemed like he was waiting for Kane to say some words in fact. 

"I don't know what you're talking about," Kane said coolly. 

Ray laughed and shook his head at Kane, "You're a terrible liar, you know that right?" 

"Apparently I don't," Kane said, his gaze wandering over to where the only woman worth looking at was sitting. 

Ray followed Kane's gaze and smiled. "What the hell are you going to do about that one, boss?" 

"I have no idea," Kane confessed with a sigh. "I don't even know where I would even start." 

"Maybe you could start by asking her to dance." Ray suggested. He was looking at Kane expectantly. Kane didn't want to disappoint his second, but every single part of him resisted the idea of walking over and asking her to dance. It made him want to shrink in his own skin. 

"Or maybe I could just sit here and drink away the last two weeks." Kane took a long drag from the mug of ale that was perched in his lap. He let his gaze sweep over the crowd another time. The people dancing were whirling around in happy circles. 

Ray snorted, "This dancing isn't exactly intimate. What, are you scared?" 

Kane slid his gaze toward Ray. There was a challenge in Ray's eyes that Kane had to answer. If he didn't, then he would be a coward. A coward that would never hear the end of it from his pack. Kane told himself that was the only reason why he rose from his seat and made his way toward the table where his pack sat.