Chapter 27
Isla POV
Wouldn’t you?”
For a heartbeat, something unreadable flickered in his gaze, his wolf maybe. Or was that the bond he and I kept trying to ignore. It was gone almost immediately, replaced with his usual icy mask.
“I’ll be there,” he said simply.
“Good.” I stepped past him, brushing my sleeve against his arm deliberately.
“Then at least one of us will have done their duty tonight.”
He caught my wrist. Not hard, but firm enough to make my pulse jump.
“Careful, Isla,” he said softly, his voice low and edged with warning.
“You keep poking at me like this, you might not like the reaction you get “ he hissed in warning.
A rush of desire licked through me in spite of myself.
Damn the bond and damn the way my wolf recognized him even when my brain screamed otherwise.
I yanked my wrist free and forced a smirk.
“Then maybe you should learn how to react better.”
His scowl followed me as I walked back toward my desk, but he didn’t say another word.
When the door finally shut behind him, I sank into the chair, pressing both hands over my face. Goddess help me, I was losing my grip. For all his coldness, for all his clipped words, he’d agreed. Maybe that was something.
But my wolf whispered otherwise.
He hadn’t agreed for me.
He’d agreed to keep appearances tidy,– to keep Aunt Rhea satisfied. To keep Viviana’s ghost looming just out of reach.
The next day was a blur of activities with frantic checks from the staff as they fixed the last minute details. Lilly hovered at my side, wide-eyed and quiet, though I caught her smothering a grin once or twice when I snapped at a footman too slow to respond.
I wanted to apologize but I was too stressed to even consider it right now, Chef shooed me out of the kitchen when he said my barking orders had become a bit too intense.
“You’re frightening them,” he hissed at one point.
“Good,” I said without hesitation.
“Fear is faster than respect.”
“ That's fine and all but I need functioning humans to work in my kitchen” he replied and I deflated
“ What do you want me to do “
“ Go rest and get dressed for the event, I'm sure you have a few dresses to try on” I sighed, because he was right, I had abandoned dressing up in favor of taking care of this family dinner.
“ Let's go Lilly “ I urged and Chef waved me off
Lilly helped me into a dress, a decision I had made after trying ok four and deciding anymore and I'd kill someone
“ But my lady this one fits your–” the maid started and I growled at her
“ One more piece of clothing and I would skin you and wear you instead,” I threatened
The girls smile faltered, and guilt pricked me, she wasn’t like the others—she was young and impressionable so I had to watch myself more.
I could already hear the people partying from the window– the feast had begun.
Tristan arrived in our room, he looked as handsome as always. I kept my chin high, my steps even, even though my stomach twisted with nerves of the eyes that would be on me tonight even if this was a family dinner.
“Are you ready “ he huffed and I forced my lips into a smile, leaned close enough to brush my shoulder against his.
“On time,” I murmured.
“So miracles do happen.”
He didn’t answer, but the twitch at the corner of his mouth told me he’d heard.
“ Let's go down” he whispered and I nodded holding his hand to move out the door.
The heels of my shoes clicked against the marble steps as I followed Tristan down the grand staircase. We hadn’t spoken since leaving our room, or was it my room since he barely slept in there and the silence pulling between us was heavy and about to break like a taut thread pulled too tight.
Below us, the gathering hall was already alive with murmurs of people in conversation and unlike the mating rituals from at the ancestral hall, this was a more sedated affair for the pack as a whole.
It would last for at least two hours and so far it was just an excuse for the Elders to eat and drink a lot.
Most of them were already seated on the long tables, half of them looked like they would fall over at some point tonight and with the amount of wine present they likely would.
The room was filled with the smell of roasted venison and wine.
My pulse quickened as I looked around the place trying to make sure not was out of place. This wasn’t just another dinner, it was a test for me to and my every word—or lack of one—would be weighed and judged.
“Keep your back straight,” Tristan murmured beside me, his voice so low it almost vanished beneath the swell of conversation.
I stiffened a little annoyed at his tone
“It already is.” I drawled
“Straighter,” he said, his hand brushing against my lower back as if to correct my stance. His touch burned and I tried not to flinch against his hold.
I shot him a glare, but he didn’t look at me just kept his eyes fixed at the people in front of us, he didn't look nervous because he likely didn't feel it . To him the entire room belonged to him.
And maybe it did.
The elders rose as we reached the base of the stairs a dozens pairs of eyes turning to watch us as we walked down the stairs, I felt like I was livestock being appraised before slaughter. I forced a smile, though my wolf snarled beneath my skin.
We just reached the bottom of the stairs and from the side doors,—Rhea, Tristan’s aunt strode in.
She looked just as taciturn as I remembered, her dark hair streaked with bits of silver and her gaze was sharp enough to cut steel. The room shifted with her arrival, the low murmur of voices stilling as she crossed the hall.
“Nephew,” she greeted Tristan warmly, though her eyes flicked over me with thinly veiled scrutiny.
“And our new Luna.” I dipped my head.
“Lady Rhea.”
Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.
“Let us begin.