Chapter 98 DINNER AFFAIR
GALLAHAN’S POV
“Can you stop fussing?” Willa asked as she herded us to the great dining hall of the Alfiero Manor. “You’ll ruin my hard work.”
“I’m sorry to break it to you, sweetheart,” I drawled playfully, “but my dashing appearance is not your hard work. It’s my parents’ hard work.”
“What does that mean?” Calisto wondered, tugging me by the hand I was holding him with. “I don’t get it, Daddy.”
Willa shot me an irate look, slapping my other hand that had been tugging at the collar of my regalia for tonight’s dinner affair.
While I had my official garbs as the heir of the Alpha King, which boasted the colors of midnight blue and gold and had a long side cape for the right shoulder, Willa had clad me in dark green and black with accents of silvery gray for this Alfiero family dinner.
“Daddy meant nothing about what he said,” Willa explained to Calisto with a tight smile. Then she shot me a glare when she noticed me fussing with the fancy silk jabot she had chosen for me. “I said stop fussing.”
Gillian, who was donning a knee-length tulle dress of the same shade of green everybody was wearing, giggled softly. She had warmed up to me considerably in the past few months, but it was clear to all of us how I had remained much closer to Calisto than to her.
“It’s just dinner, Daddy. You’ll survive the chabot for a couple of hours, I’m sure.”
“Jabot,” Willa and I corrected at the same time.
“Jabot,” she repeated with a nod, an undeniable intelligent glint shining in her eyes.
“Seriously,” I huffed after a beat of silence. “I don’t get why we have to be all dressed up for this. It’s just dinner with your family. It’s not like there would be others who will join us tonight, and we don’t even have any intention to contest your brother’s claim to be the next Alpha of Wolverham.”
Willa threw me a quick and mildly impatient look. “It’s customary, Han. As someone who hailed from an ancient line of werewolves should know the weight of these things.”
“Oh, I bet this dinner is just the pre-show. After this there will be a presentation to the pack elders, right? For formality.”
Willa hummed as we turned a corner. “Yes. If we intend to take the Alpha seat from William, I will have to introduce you and our heir during the presentation. You will also have to forfeit being an Alpha King and take on my last name then.”
“Gallahan Alfiero,” I tested out in jest. “Not bad.”
“Right. But Willa Coraline Wick has a nice ring to it, no?”
She was teasing just as I was.
Still, the way her given name rolled perfectly with my surname had my breath stuttering in my chest.
“Are we going to be an Alfiero or a Wick?” Calisto wondered.
But I didn’t have the chance to reply, because we had reached the imposingly tall double doors that led to the dining hall, and Willa had the mind to give us last minute reminders.
“Once we enter the dining hall, I need you to be on your best behavior, okay?” she said firmly as she slid her hand on one of the glimmering golden door handles, which swirled at their tips.
She then met my gaze with a raised brow, making it clear that her words were directed more to me, rather than the kids.
“Yes, I promise,” I replied, taking the other door handle into my grip. “I’ll sit still like a good dog. I’ll even wag my tail if you say so.”
Willa rolled her eyes, but then the effect was diminished when she furtively whispered, “Good boy.”
And then we simultaneously twisted down the door handles and pushed the doors open.
Instantly, a hum of appreciation went past my lips.
The dining hall defined the word magnificent. The dome ceiling was high and painted with multiple masterful depictions of the Alfiero lineage’s history. On top of that, each depiction was made in a way that even the large brilliant chandeliers didn’t ruin the sight.
But it wasn’t just the painting that impressed me. Arched mosaic windows lined the walls, each one tastefully showing a different wolf. I could make an intelligent guess that every lupine was an Alpha of Wolverham at some point in time.
“Impressed?” Willa murmured playfully as she slipped her hand into the crook of my proffered arm.
“Hm. I am, actually,” I admitted.
“It’s nice, isn’t it? Memaw said Mommy is painted in the ceiling. But Gillian and I couldn’t find it.”
“Really?” I said, turning eagerly to my son. “And Mommy didn’t tell you where it is?”
“No. She said it’s not a big deal.”
“How about we play a game? Let’s see who can find it first, and whoever wins will get a wish from the loser.”
Willa interjected before Calisto could agree, though. She clucked her tongue and said sternly, “Best behavior tonight, remember? No games.”
“Fine,” Calisto and I conceded begrudgingly.
“Willa, I’m so glad you and your family could make it,” Felicity said by way of greeting as soon as we reached the head of the obscenely long rectangular dining table.
She then opened her arms towards her daughter in invitation for a hug. So Willa dropped her hold on me and Gillian to embrace her awaiting mother.
“Mom, it’s not as if we reside on the other side of the continent. So of course we would be here tonight. Besides, this is important for William.”
“And I appreciate it,” Felicity replied, affectionately patting Willa’s cheek. Then she turned to me and said, “Mr. Wick. Welcome.”
“Luna Felicity, I am honored to join you and your family tonight.”
“Hm. I hope you could…” She paused, her lips pressing tight together as if she was trying not to frown. Then after a half-beat of silence, she added, “set aside your differences with William tonight. I would appreciate it if we could all get along. After all, you are a part of this family as Willa’s mate.”
Behind Felicity and standing on Greggory’s right side, Wendell let out a loud scoff.
But no one in the room dared to comment about it, all of us having the same mind to simply let it go ignored.
Greggory then took the chance to greet me before we could all descend into a bout of stifling silence. “Gallahan Wick, welcome. We are honored to have you join us tonight.”
“The honor is all mine,” I politely returned.
Nothing else could be said between us, though, because the double doors swung open.
We all turned to see, expecting William.
But he wasn’t alone.
“What the fuck,” I muttered as I recognized the woman he was escorting towards us.
There was no mistaking the graceful yet calculated gait and the eerie doll-like face that had terrorized me for weeks.
Yes. There was no doubt it was her.
And it was clear how I wasn’t the only one who was taken by surprise because Willa didn’t even have it in her to chide me for cursing with the children around.