CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED & NINETY TWO
Talia’s POV
Nolan and I reached the receiving hall right at sunrise. The first of the visiting Alphas were already there, gathered in twos and threes along the side aisles. I worked the line with Nolan half a step behind me, greeting and welcoming each Alpha and Luna.
“Welcome Alpha Kent. It is a pleasure for you to be here again,” I told him, but Kent didn’t respond. He continued staring out the window. My wolf bristled at his rude behavior, but it didn’t matter. I wasn’t going to take the bait. My family had done nothing to Kent. He was becoming an enemy for unfounded reasons and I would not be lenient with him once this backfires in his face.
‘He has not spoken to a single Alpha since we came in,‘ Nolan said through the mind link. ‘He is waiting for something.‘
“The Alpha King has arrived,” one of the guards near the main doors announced. Everyone turned as the main doors to the hall opened.
My father strolled into the room. Solon walked a half step behind one shoulder. Leslie walked a half step behind the other. My father entered the room as if he hadn’t been deathly sick yesterday.
‘How is this possible?‘ Nolan asked.
My father looked suave. He was wearing a well–fitted silver suit with a silver and black hat pulled low over his grey hair which was smart. If any of his hair did show, they would assume it was part of his hat. He wasn’t pale at all. His skin looked warm.
I caught Nolan’s wrist without thinking. His pulse was quick under my fingers. He held my hand for a brief second.
‘Leslie must have figured something out and kept it from us,‘ my wolf suggested and I agreed.
Across the hall, Kent’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water.
“It cannot be,” Kent muttered, He said it loud enough for the two men beside him to hear. “He was on his deathbed two weeks ago…”
My wolf bristled. I felt she needed to check Kent, but it wasn’t the time. I forced a smile back on my face.
“Alpha Kent, mind your manners today. You do realize it is an offense to wish bad on the Alpha King,” I scolded him.
Kent glared at me. Before he could respond, Nolan approached him. The Alphas near Kent backed away.
“Whatever you were about to say next, Alpha Kent, think it through,” Nolan warned. “If I hear about you spreading one more rumor, I’ll make sure you get real familiar with the dungeon and what it’s like to not have a tongue. Are we clear?”
Kent’s lips pressed flat. He gave a short nod and said, “Of course, Alpha Nolan.”
I crossed the hall to my father. The Alphas in our path made room. Solon caught my eye and shook his head a fraction. I kept my voice down when I reached my father, but I could not keep the brightness out of it.
“Father, you look great. Tell me how you managed this,” I said low enough for only him to hear.
My father glanced at me from under the brim of the hat and then waved me off. “That doesn’t matter. What matters is that I am able to do what is required today.” He tilted his head toward Solon, and the brim caught the
+25 Bonus
light again. “Although Solon’s taste in hats is as poor as it has ever been. I asked for something plain. This is not plain.”
“You opted to wear a silver suit. The hat matches and it is plain,” Solon argued.
“This is not plain. It is a costume prop,” my father retorted.
I laughed before I stopped myself. The feeling of dread had lessened, seeing my father like this. I needed to know what Leslie did.
“You sneaky wolf,” I teased as I looped arms with Leslie. “All those nights at his bedside and you had a miracle worked out. You let me sit there thinking we were losing him.”
Leslie smiled weakly and said, “Talia. Please. Not now. We will talk later, once the day is behind us. You and Nolan should take your places.” She pulled her arm free before I could stop her. Nolan touched my elbow and turned me toward the stage. 1
My father climbed the three steps without a hand on the rail. The murmur that rolled through the room was one of confusion. Everything Kent had said about father looked like malicious lies.
“Alphas of the territory, welcome to this year’s Harvest Gathering,” my father started. “I open the gathering now with the same offer I make every year. Any request, any dispute, any grievance, you may bring before me today and it will be settled.”
A chair scraped along the stone. It drew everyone’s attention.
Kent stood.
“Alpha King, before the standing matters are heard, I beg your indulgence. Another Alpha has traveled a great distance to be here today. He comes bearing a gift for Silverfang. He waits at the doors now. I would ask he be admitted before we proceed,” Kent requested.
We had not been told of any other Alpha. The guest list had been settled.three days ago. So, who was this new Alpha?
‘Something is wrong about this,‘ I told Nolan through the mind link.
‘I am reaching out to Marco now to see if he knows who this Alpha is,‘ Nolan responded.
The doors at the back of the hall had already begun to open before my father gave his answer.
A man stood in the doorway. My breath shortened in my throat. The unease that I had felt earlier came back with full force.
Comments
Support
Share
+25 Bonus
