Alpha Vaughan

Chapter 16

The wide outdoor patio was awash with clean breeze and vibrant greenery. The skies were clear, the weather mild. At a secluded corner, a pianist played the piano, producing soft, relaxing tunes. 

My court were all on their feet, waiting. As I strode down the concrete, some turned and looked at me expectantly, some puzzlingly, while others, with thinly concealed malice. 

Taking my seat at the head of the table, Nayla came to stand beside me. An action every Noble's personal omega immediately mirrored, taking their positions beside their mistresses; I couldn't help noting they were all older than Nayla.

"Good morning," I began, then waited for the file of omegas that had just entered to finish setting the table. A cup of steaming hot tea before me, I continued, introducing myself, "Hello, everyone, I'm Hilda Miller from the Stillmoon pack."

A tall, blonde-haired Noble with a dainty air about her looked me up from over the rim of her cup, her eyes lined with dark eyeliner. She said quietly, "Oh, we already know who you are... or aren't."

A full werewolf. Rule number one: do not entertain snide or passive aggressive comments.

Biting my tongue, I made sure a smile was still fixed on my face by widening it. I continued, "I would like to know your names."

In turns they began introducing themselves.

"My name is Alta Scots from the Beastclaw pack, and I am forever at your service, Miss Hilda..."

On and on they went until a petite redhead and a tall brunette introduced themselves.

"My name's Robyn Wolfe from the Segrid pack, and I am forever at your service, Miss Hilda," said the tall brunette.

"My name is Genevieve Dreight from the Beastclaw pack, and I am forever at your service, Miss," said the petite redhead.

My interest peaked. Nayla had told me to get to know two people: Robyn and Genevieve. I made a mental note to meet them after the tea party.

When silence stretched the air after that, I struggled for what to say next, then finally settled on, "I hope the tea's to your liking?"

A collective murmur of yeses and of courses filled the patio. I shifted in my seat. "And the cakes?"

"Perfect." "Remarkable." "Delicious."

I wished I could find mine all of those things, but the sudden intrusion of nerves into my system made that impossible. I realized I wanted them all to like me. Even the petite blonde with dark eyes, who's name I'd learnt was Winifred. Her eyes watched me closely now, her stare penetrating into my soul. She noticed my discomfort, and a slow smirk suddenly stretched her lips.

"Miss Hilda, I heard female werewolves were not allowed to fight in your pack... Is that true?"

She spoke of my pack in past tense, as though it was gone. I supposed it was. 

All eyes were on me now. "Yes," I replied shortly. When they looked at me expectantly, I realized I had to say more. "Yes, they aren't allowed to fight in my pack, because my father was concerned they wouldn't have been able to put up with all the...vigorous activities." The lie and the implication of my words that women were weak tasted vile on my tongue.

Winifred gingerly seeped from her cup. "With the training, or lack of, that females had received in your pack, I can only imagine you're going to get beaten by Tabitha on the field next tomorrow," she said bluntly.

Tabitha, I realized, had been silent since the beginning of the tea party. Now she murmured, "And I'm going to have a lot of fun doing that."

Gazes widened, and low snickers sounded from behind manicured fingers.

Rule number one: do not entertain snide or passive aggressive comments.

"A lot of fun doing what? Getting beaten? Didn't know you had kinks Tabitha," I said.

Rule number one: broken.

A low murmur rose up in the open space. Winifred regarded me narrowly. "Not anymore than you do, Hilda. The Alpha's not capable of love, so you're going to be in a lot of pain pinning after someone who'll never return your affections."

A scoff. "Yeah, well, rest assured: he won't be returning any affections to me, because I have none for him." A small voice at the back of my mind whispered, 'liar.' I slapped a lid on it.

Winifred gingerly picked up her cup from the saucer, quietly saying, "What they always say," a long buried pain showing through her eyes.

I suddenly felt...pity.

Rule number three: remember to compliment them all on one thing, but never at the same time.

My gaze took in the empire waist evening dress Winifred wore. The vibrant yellow dress brought out the greens of her eyes, eyes that watched me expressionlessly.

"Your dress looks lovely," I said gently.

A sly look entered her eyes. "It had looked even lovelier on Alpha Vaughan's bedroom floor."

A dark feeling sparked to life inside me, a feeling I refused to examine closely. It was ugly and dark and consumed me until it goaded me to rise to my feet.

Rule number two: Do not display table manners that are anything but perfect.

I walked over to her. "No," I said, picking up a large piece of heavily iced cake. "It will look even lovelier with some icing." With that I slammed the cake on her bodice, crushing it until it spread allover her torso.

A silent gasp left her mouth gaping openly, her arms suspended halfway in the air.

Rule number three: put in word of your achievements whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Just short of dusting my palms, I straightened and spoke over the loud silence. "Oh, and in case any of you have anything else to say to or about me, know that I broke a boy's arms at just thirteen."

To the grave silence and stricken faces, I turned around and strode over to the door, Nayla walking hastily to catch up with me.

She kept silent until we made it into a wide hallway. "Miss!" she bursted out. "I know Miss Winifred can be aggravating, but you shouldn't have done that. You shouldn't have stooped to her level, you're better than that."

She was right. My action was uncalled for, not to mention irrational. Why, I asked myself, had I felt angry at her not so subtle implication she'd slept with Vaughan before? I should've expected it; they'd been really close after all, and one thing was bound to lead to another.

But what was done was done; I'd smashed cake on her dress, and might as well have smashed my chances of getting the court to ever accept me. I didn't even know why I cared so much.

Even as I berated myself for caring too much, I dimly thought of whether I might still have a shot at Robyn and Genevieve, the least bitchy of the court. Thinking back now, when I'd ruined Winifred's dress; they'd been...

They'd been pleasantly surprised, mouths gaping open in shock and silent laughter, humour shining brightly in their eyes.

My spirits soared. Not all was lost then.

Nayla was saying, "...and now you're never going to know about those sacrifices the Alpha made, which is disappointing because I'd really wanted to know too, b--"

"One way or another I'm still going to know about it. But that's not the priority right now."

Wide-eyed, Nayla asked, "Then what is?"

Finding Eunice.

But I said, "Finding a man." The one who'd given me a rundown on what had been discussed in Vaughan's court.

"Who?"

"Don't know his name, but I know what he looks like." Then I went on to describe him.

Nayla squinted thoughtfully, appearing pensive. "There are a lot of middle-aged, tall and gangly men in Alpha Vaughan's court, you've got to try a little harder." 

I searched my brain thoroughly. "Er...he's a sucker for food?"

She lit up. "Aha! I think I might know who you're looking for."