CHAPTER 31: "ICE" II

There were scratches on his body. My eyes glowed. He said it was fine and told me it was normal. I didn’t think it was. Although the wound healed and the scratches disappeared a few moments later, I pondered on it throughout the night—even when a servant dropped by in the morning to inform me about the morning breakfast in the Pack dining.

"Luna has announced that you’ll be joining everyone for the Pack’s brunch from henceforth," she had said.

I was anxious when I got dressed in my mid-thigh, flared, sleeveless denim gown. I was going to face the Luna after what happened between the Alpha and me.

When the elevator slid open, I froze on the spot, seeing Luna already inside—standing tall and poised in a black, knee-length dress. She had a bag on her wrist and was busy with her phone. When she looked up at me, she paused, gave me a once-over, and smiled.

"You’re headed to the dining room for brunch, right?"

I nodded.

"Come on in. I’m going there too."

I swallowed and stepped into the elevator, growing even more anxious when the doors slid closed.

Don’t be guilty. Take a deep breath.

"Are you nervous?"

My head snapped up. "What?"

"Your heart is pounding pretty fast, and I can smell your anxiety. Are you okay?" she asked casually, still focused on her phone.

I forced a smile. "Yes." Thank goodness she can’t read minds. "I’m just nervous about the recent event."

It was partly the truth, so she couldn’t smell a lie in it. I puffed out a breath, struggling to steady it.

"You’ll be meeting with that person I told you about today. She’s a witch and will perform some rituals that might affect you. Get prepared."

Fucking hell. Not this again.

"Okay, Luna."

She dropped her phone into her bag and turned to me. "You don’t have anything to worry about. It won’t have a negative effect. Just play along, okay?"

I nodded, forcing out a smile.

The moment the elevator slid open, I let her step out first before following closely behind.

The dining room door was heavy as I pulled it open—it slipped from my sweaty palm. When I stepped inside, I froze. And no, it had nothing to do with the elegant décor—the chandelier, the cream-colored chairs, or the mirror by the corner. It also had nothing to do with the six unfamiliar faces already seated at the table. No. It was the figure sitting at the head of the table, watching my shocked expression as he took a bite of chicken.

He wore a black shirt and gray pants. It was the most casual I had ever seen him.

"Bambi? Have a seat," Luna called out.

I did, moving to the chair at the far end of the table.

"Why are you so far away? You’re the breeder—you should sit beside the Alpha," another voice said. He looked to be in his early thirties.

I glanced at the Luna, who had sat at the other end of the table, already munching on her meal. Alpha Dawn said nothing. He just continued watching me intensely.

The others at the table—four men and two women, all seemingly in their late twenties or early thirties—also had their eyes on me.

I slowly made my way to the top of the table where Alpha Dawn sat and took the chair beside him, on his left. His scent hit me—sharp, fierce, masculine.

"Thank you for joining us, Bambi. Since this is your first time here, it’s only proper to introduce ourselves," a brunette woman seated beside the Luna said.

"I’m Sierra, Alpha Dawn’s maternal cousin," she introduced, a smile painted across her round face. She pointed to the man beside her. "This is Silas. He’s my younger brother."

"And Alpha Dawn’s worst nightmare," he added.

"Shut up," Sierra bit back, then pointed at the lady beside Silas. "That’s Celeste. She’s our foster sister."

Celeste smiled and waved. I waved back, noting the dimple that appeared on her cheek.

"That person over there," Sierra continued, pointing to the man next to Celeste, "is Callum, Alpha Dawn’s fraternal cousin."

Callum had a faux hawk hairstyle. He seemed like a golden-retriever kind of guy.

She then pointed across the table to the man who had told me to sit beside the Alpha. "That’s Christopher, the Alpha’s nephew and the Pack’s advisor."

"One and only," Christopher said.

I smiled at him.

"And that is the Alpha, as you already know."

I forced out a smile, avoiding his gaze.

"Eat your meal and feel at home," Christopher said.

I nodded and picked up my fork.

"When you walked into the room, I smelled Alpha Dawn’s perfume on you."

I froze.

It came from Silas.

What?

Everyone turned their heads toward him—including the Luna.

"I—I don’t understand." My voice cracked.

"You’re sweating. Is there something you’re not telling us?"

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding. "I-I don’t know what you’re talking about—"

"I was just joking," he said quickly, waving it off as a smile broke across his face.

Celeste reached out and slapped his arm playfully. "Stop being silly!" she scolded.

"Did my duet with you yesterday fuck with your head or something?" Christopher teased.

"Oh, please. I defeated your ass."

"If bringing out your fangs and claws to cheat means winning, then whatever makes you happy," Christopher returned.

"I don’t recall you giving any rule about not bringing out our fangs and claws," Silas mused.

"The rule was to fight fair and square."

Silas chuckled. "It was fair and square. I just worked smarter."

As Christopher was about to respond, the Luna interrupted him. "You seem nervous."

She was staring at me. I swallowed, hoping she wasn’t referring to me.

"I heard your heart pounding fast when Silas made the accusation that you smell of the Alpha’s perfume. Why is that?"

I parted my lips, unable to reply.

"Odessa, she was probably terrified by Silas’s joke," Celeste waved it off.

"No," Luna Odessa snapped. "She was scared—as if she was close to being figured out." Her gaze intensified. "As if she was hiding something... truly."

Suddenly, she got to her feet and stalked toward me. My heart picked up its pace when she effortlessly lifted me to my feet and leaned in to sniff me. She withdrew, her frown deepening.

"I smell the Alpha on you. Did you meet with him last night?"

Panic rose in my throat. My head pounded, and I was unable to answer.

Everyone’s gaze was pinned on me—except the Alpha. He was still munching on his meal as if he wasn’t in the room with us.

"Answer me!" she snapped, causing me to flinch.

"Yes."

It was from the Alpha. His answer silenced the room.

Everyone turned to him, including me. He took a gentle sip of his water, dusted his lips with a napkin, set it back on the table, and leaned against his seat.

"We were together last night," he repeated.

"Alpha," Luna Odessa began, her tone cracking, "she has disobeyed the breeding rules by meeting the Alpha outside the breeding hour. She should be punished."

"Don’t lay a finger on her," he warned, his gaze fierce on Luna Odessa.

"Are you serious right now, Alpha? Why are you protecting her so much? Were you doing something that benefited you as well?"

He nodded. "Well, if you could put it that way, we were both satisfied. I guess that could count as beneficial."

"What were you doing?" she asked, her tone harsh.

"Not that it’s any of your business, but we were eating ice."

Everyone frowned, looking confused. It felt like a hidden secret. My stomach flipped when I remembered the safe word.

"Ice? What is that? Like... ice blocks?"

"Precisely."

"Why would you sit down and decide to chew ice blocks? That’s weird." That was Christopher.

"My bet is that the Alpha is lying. He’s a riddle man, and he just dropped a hint. But it’s a pity I can’t read the Alpha’s emotions," Celeste added.

"So, what do you think they were doing?" Christopher asked.

"Chewing ice blocks?" Silas answered matter-of-factly.

"Okay, Silas. You guessed right. Now, get out."

He frowned. "Me?"

"No. All of you. Leave," the Alpha commanded.

I took in a breath of relief as everyone got to their feet, ready to leave.

The Luna was the first to storm out, giving me a cold gaze before she disappeared. Christopher followed after grabbing a drumstick of chicken. I began following behind Celeste—until I heard his voice.

"Where do you think you’re going?"

Everyone stopped and turned.

"Sit," he commanded.

"Okay. I think I might have a good guess about what they were doing," Silas said on his way out. But before they all left, I heard Celeste say, "Oh, you actually think? I forgot you have the capacity to think," she teased.

It seemed Silas gave a response, but I couldn’t catch the rest as they had already closed the door behind them, leaving me alone with Alpha Dawn.

He got to his feet and rested his hands on the table. "Come here."

I did, walking toward him. He took my hand and pulled me close until I felt his bulge.

I swallowed.

"What do you want again?" I asked in a whisper.