The Alpha's Prize

34

Word Count: 1515

~Hunter

We settle at the table, dinner already laid out for us.

I don't mind these obligations. The only aspect of this that makes me nervous is having them question where I've come from.

Anyone who knows about my past may think I'm better off back where I was, with Vinn...

"Thanks again for having us," I tell Kara and Leon, looking down at the creamy lemongrass soup in front of me, the steam wafting up into my face.

"No need," Leon says with a smile. "It's unfortunate Allira and Cyrus couldn't join us."

"Unfortunate indeed," Kaan mutters, raising his brows at me.

I look away, clearing my throat. The last thing any of us want is those two at a dinner like this. It's bad enough we have to be here, acting like any of us want this.

"So, did you enjoy your honeymoon?" Kara asks lightly.

"We did. A lot." I feel my cheeks heat at the memory.

I'm not sure Kaan and I did much over that week. We spent most of the time together in bed, enjoying each other very thoroughly. By the amused looks on everyone's faces, they know what I'm alluding to.

"I wish we didn't have to come home," Kaan adds, swirling his spoon around his soup absentmindedly.

"There's a lot for you to do now that you're Luna. Have you started your training?" Leon asks me.

I swallow thickly. I could mention how much my injury has hindered me, but I don't want them to know about it. It feels against my best interests to make myself more vulnerable than I already am.
 
"I know a lot about the role already," I opt for saying instead.

It's true, at least. I've spent my entire life being raised to be married off to an Alpha. It's not as if I need any more formal training, although they don't know that.

Kara frowns, exchanging a look with her husband. "It's tradition for Luna's to-"

"It doesn't matter. Sienna may do whatever she pleases," Kaan cuts in sharply, giving them a long look.

I lower my gaze as thick tension settles over the room. I busy myself by grabbing a bread roll from the basket in front of me. Now I'm starting to see why Tay and Kaan considered this trip to be so odious.

"And an heir? When can we expect one?" Kara questions.

I cough on my the dry bread, looking at Kaan desperately as I drink down some water.

"We're in no rush," he tells them smoothly.

"That may be a mistake," Leon warns.

"Can we talk about something else?" Tay ask uncomfortably, her hands tucked on her lap, not having touched her food like this entire experience has made her lose her appetite.

It's not that I'm not open to having children...one day. For now, there are much bigger issues to concentrate on than the line of succession.

"Certainly." Kara turns her body to Tay. "Have you secured a husband yet?"

She stiffens. "No..."

"Why not? You're a beautiful girl."

"Maybe if my parents let me leave the estate for more than just a visit here, I would have a chance," she responds bitterly.

This is the first time I've ever seen Tay be blatantly rude. Usually, she tries to keep the conversation light, yet here she is, staring down these two people like she's contemplating murder.

I don't blame her. Being questioned so vigorously isn't fun.

"Arranged marriages are much more fashionable anyway," Leon muses, nudging his wife, who nods in agreement.

"Just because Kaan is married doesn't mean there isn't still an onus on you," Kara adds.

Tay shrinks back into her chair, a sour yet shameful look taking residence on her face. I've had the same exact mantra uttered to me my entire life as an Alpha's sister, and it's miserable.

The most unfortunate part of Kaan and I's union is knowing my parents would approve.

"Let's leave her alone for tonight. I don't think my sister is in the mood for this," Kaan cuts in, giving the pair a cold look, warning them to back off.

I start shovelling the soup into my mouth, hoping to be done quickly so I can excuse myself.

"We don't mean to offend. We are just being practical," Leon muses.

Kaan shakes his head slowly but resumes eating. He knows there isn't much that can be said to people like this that can change their minds.

"So, Hunter, tell us a bit about where you came from," Kara says lightly, smiling at me.

"A small Pack far away. I came here to visit for fun and ran into Kaan. The rest is history, I suppose," I say quickly, hoping a light story might redirect their interests away.

They haven't indicated they know me as Livia, an Alpha's sister and daughter. Because of that, I'm not going to volunteer any more information than I have to.

"I'm surprised your parents allowed you to marry for love. It's very unconventional," Leon brings up, laughing into his napkin.

"I think they saw they didn't have another choice," Kaan states. "I am the Alpha. What I say goes."

My attempts to smother my smile aren't very successful, but thankfully, Kara and Leon are too focused on my mate to notice my amusement.

"You've always been impulsive, haven't you." That doesn't sound like a compliment.

"We only say this because we care about you," Kara adds softly, although everyone in the room knows it's more than that.

Their expectations are archaic.

Leon's gaze sweeps back to me, causing my spoon to freeze halfway between my mouth and my bowl. "I know you may care about Kaan, but I hope you are in this marriage for the right reasons, Hunter."

My spoon slowly lowers back into the bowl. There's not much use to eating tonight.

"What are the right reasons supposed to be?"

"To protect this Pack, to look after the members," Leon lists off. "Not to take your shot at being rich, being with a powerful man."

My shock stuns me while Kaan grips his knife tightly next to him. For a second, I swear he's going to launch across the table to slit Leon's throat.

They say all this with a disturbing smile on their face as if this is appropriate dinner chatter. If I weren't so creeped out, I would be offended.

"I would watch what you say to my wife," Kaan warns, the seething edge to his tone causing a chill to shiver down my spine.

"We don't mean to offend you," Kara says softly. "We just care about Kaan, and I'm assuming you're not from a wealthy family."

"I wouldn't assume," I force out.

I come from wealth far more impressive than them. Like my family, this one seems to have been poisoned by it, rotting them from the inside.

"Seriously, both of you just shut up," Tay exclaims suddenly, slamming her cutlery down onto the table. "Are your lives so boring that you need to dig yourselves into ours?"

"Tay-"

"None of us want this. We just want to be normal, and you're making our lives harder than they need to be," she snaps, fury laced into her soft features. "Hunter is perfect for Kaan. Him being happy should be all that matters to you."

I gape at her, not entirely sure what I should say. This is the first time I've ever seen Tay speak up for herself.

"I don't appreciate the way you're speaking to us right now," Kara states, that smile finally slipping.

"I don't care. I'm done." Tay stands, shoving her chair back violently.

We all watched as she storms from the room, letting the door slam behind her.

I wipe my hand over my mouth, trying not to smile. That was impressive. She stuck up for me, and she stuck up for herself.

Kaan looks at me. "I'll get her."

I nod, hanging back as he leaves. Those two need space to deal with this, and I don't want to complicate things more than I already have.

"We don't mean you any harm, Hunter," Leon murmurs. "I hope you understand."

I shrug, pushing my half-eaten soup away from me, feeling it swimming around my stomach uneasily. This entire night has been a disaster.

"It's fine," I mutter under my breath. "Believe it or not, I have a lot of experience with people like you."

Kara frowns. "Sorry, what was that?"

I press back in my chair, swiftly standing. I thought I had escaped this kind of life when I launched from my bedroom window and took off running into the forest. Instead, I'm facing down the same monsters I always have.

"Nothing," I pin them with my gaze before I turn away. "Thanks for the dinner. I'm going to get some rest."

💙••💙

If you want to support my writing, you can always read  the COMPLETED novel on Radish (:

My latest novel, the Cold Prince, is out now on Wattpad! I hope you'll check it out (:

~Midika 💜🐼