CHAPTER 116: USEFUL AND WELL-BEHAVED

When I went down to the dining hall that morning, I didn’t expect to hear so much chatter. Usually, the place was not that loud, only a little livelier when everyone was present—Ares, Diaval, Raye, with the Alpha of course.

Even then, Raye and Ares often did all the talking.

But today, the voices carried even before I stepped inside, and I heard unfamiliar voices. It was kind of odd, so I immediately thought that there might be guests. A few times in the past week, some of the councilmen or high-ranked warriors came to talk with Rion over a meal.

When I finally entered, I paused for a second. Not only were Rion, Raye, Diaval, and Ares seated around the long table, but two other women sat comfortably as if they belonged there.

Jesmine and Mira, if I remembered their names right.

What are they doing here?

From what I overheard during that first night of the Moon Festival, they were daughters of men who held influence in the council. That probably explained why they had the guts to stroll into the Alpha’s castle like it was some kind of social salon.

"You woke up a bit late," Ares said with a smirk as I made my way to my usual seat. His voice had that teasing lilt that either meant to amuse me or get under my skin.

I ignored the way the two women’s eyes followed me as sharply as blades. Sitting down, I reached for the pitcher and poured myself a glass of milk.

"Didn’t sleep well these past days," I said simply, raising the cup to my lips.

The milk felt warm in my throat. Just exactly what I needed.

"You must be Vivien," Jesmine spoke up, her voice smooth, almost too polite.

Her brown hair was styled differently this time, half tied, cascading over her shoulders. Not like the first night I’d seen her, when her hair was wound into a coiled crown, tight and stiff, almost like a serpent resting on her head.

"So you talked about me already?" I asked, raising one eyebrow as I let my eyes sweep across the table. My tone was light, but the question had a bit of edge to it.

Jesmine blinked, her lips curving in a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. Mira said nothing, but I could feel her gaze measuring me, as though I were something to be weighed and judged. There was also obvious disdain in her face that she didn’t bother to hide.

When my eyes landed on Raye, though, she looked brighter than usual, her expression softening the tension in the room. There was a knowing smile tugging at her lips, and I knew she clearly wanted to share something with me but stopped herself, probably because of the guests at the table.

I couldn’t care much about the guests. I was just happy to see Raye smile again. She must feel relieved now that Jeron’s condition was out of danger.

Mira laughed, and the sound made me want to flinch. It rang too high, too polished, completely fake. She still had that bold red rouge painted on her lips, the color standing out stark against her pale skin, like she wanted her smile to bite as much as her words.

"We were just curious," Mira said, tilting her head slightly, looking at me as if I were her prey, "about who this new girl is, living in the Alpha’s estate. The Alpha mentioned you’re his guest. I came here to deliver a word to him about some business my father is handling in Nyrav, and imagine my surprise when I found out there’s a new addition here."

Surprised? Didn’t she already know about me? That choice of words was kind of...brainless.

"A new person in the house is always appreciated," Rion replied smoothly, his tone playful. He flicked a glance at me, lips quirking into a crooked smile. "As long as one is useful and well-behaved, why would I deny them shelter?"

I rolled my eyes inwardly. Useful and well-behaved? He made it sound like I was some stray cat he decided to keep around.

"Vivien is also my friend," Raye chimed in brightly, her voice carrying warmth. "More like a sister to me. So I’d love for her to stay here as long as she wants."

Warmth bloomed in my chest. She hadn’t just said it to get under Mira’s skin—though the twitch in Mira’s jaw told me that part was a nice bonus. No, she’d said it because she meant it.

I’d never had a sibling before. No one had ever looked at me and claimed me as one. To hear Raye call me sister... it settled over me in a way I didn’t expect. Strange, yes, but the kind of strange that felt right.

"You should really be thankful that the Alpha is so generous, Vivien," Mira added sweetly, her fake smile stretching wider.

"I am very thankful," I replied evenly, putting some food onto my plate and ignoring the way her tone made my teeth itch.

’You are?’

Rion’s voice suddenly butted into my head. My eyes darted toward him, but he was just casually eating, chewing slowly as if he hadn’t just barged into my thoughts again.

’You should make it a little more obvious that you are grateful,’ he added, the mental nudge laced with amusement.

I bit the inside of my lower lip to keep from talking back to him out loud.

"I’ve heard some things about you," Jesmine spoke up this time, her tone light, but there was an edge in her gaze. She leaned forward slightly, eyes sharp despite her smile. "You know, people outside love to chatter."

She chuckled softly, like she was letting me in on some harmless gossip.

"Is it true," she continued, pausing for a bit as if she was hesitating, or more like faking consideration, "that you were from Levian pack? That you were their Alpha’s breeder?"