Chapter 56 The welcome dinner II
~Sage~
There was no polite smile between us. There was no feigned warmth. The only look that passed between us was that of two women who understood exactly what the other was.
"Sage," Damon continued, seemingly oblivious to the tension, "As you already know, this is Riana Blackwood, Keith's chosen mate. They'll be completing the mating ceremony within the month."
Within the month.
I hadn't known it would be so soon. I had thought there would be time. I'd hoped that there would be time to plan, time to find a way out, time for something to change.
But a month. Just a month before Keith would belong to another woman forever.
I couldn't contain the bitter laugh that escaped my lips.
Riana's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly before the plastic smile returned to her face. "Luna Sage. What a pleasure to formally meet you at dinner. I do hope you'll help me adjust to my new role. After all, you seem to have such a... unique understanding of the pack dynamics."
The emphasis she placed on certain words was subtle enough that Damon wouldn't catch it. But I heard the insinuation loud and clear.
"I'm sure you'll find your footing quickly," I replied, matching her honeyed tone with my own. "Though I wonder if you truly understand what you're stepping into. Keith has very... particular preferences."
Suppressed annoyance lit up in Riana's eyes. But she quickly suppressed it. She was really a pro at covering up her emotions.
"I think I know Keith quite well," she said smoothly, "We've been acquainted since childhood. There's very little about him that surprises me anymore."
The servants began to bring out the first course, and we fell into an uncomfortable silence. The only sound that we made was the sound of forks against plates.
I could feel Keith's gaze on me, burning into my skin with an intensity that made it difficult to breathe. But I refused to meet his eyes. This was neither the time nor place for the conversation that needed to happen between us.
"You've barely spoken to your mate since she arrived," Damon complained, his tone filled with disapproval. "That's remarkably poor manners, even for you."
Keith dragged in a breath, and I saw his fingers drum against the table in agitation. But before he could respond, Riana turned to him with a radiant smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"I think he's simply overwhelmed by my presence, Alpha Damon," she purred, resting her hand on Keith's arm with casual possessiveness. "It's been so long since we've seen each other. Haven't you missed me even a little, Keith?"
Keith didn't respond. His body had gone rigid beneath her touch.
"And you've grown even more handsome since I last saw you," Riana continued, her fingers trailing down his forearm in a gesture that was far too intimate for the dinner table. "All these muscles. You must have been training extensively. It suits you."
I watched her hands move over him like she had every right to touch him, every right to claim him as her own.
And why wasn't he pulling away? Why was he just sitting there, letting her paw at him like he was her property?
So much for all his declarations about wanting to be with me. So much for his promises that he would fight for us and find a way to break free of this arrangement. Here he was, allowing another woman to touch him so immodestly while I sat across the table pretending not to care.
The feeling that had plagued me while dressing returned with a vengeance, wrapping around my heart and squeezing until I thought I might have a heart attack. My chest burned. My eyes stung with unshed tears. I needed an outlet to shed what I was feeling. If only I could get an outlet to dump these feelings in.
I bowed my head slightly , closed my eyes and took a deep breath then something strange happened.
The candles on the table flickered violently, their flames dancing as if caught in a sudden gust of wind. But the air in the room was still…perfectly still. The glasses began to clink against each other, almost falling off. And almost as sudden as it started, it stopped.
Everyone paused, glancing around in confusion.
"Drafty old building," Damon muttered, returning his attention to his meal.
But I had felt something. Like energy responding to my anguish. The flames had reacted to my emotions, bending to my will without my conscious command.
That was impossible. I had no special abilities. I was just an ordinary wolf, unremarkable in every way except for the unfortunate circumstance of my marriage.
And yet...
I pushed the thought aside. I was imagining things. The stress of the evening was making me see things where none existed.
My fork came down on my plate with more force than I intended, the sound drawing everyone's attention.
"Are you alright, luna Sage?" Keith asked, already half-rising from his chair.
I forced a laugh that sounded fake even to my own ears. "I'm perfectly fine. Just clumsy tonight. Please, don't let me interrupt."
Damon's gaze lingered on me for a moment longer than comfortable, but he eventually returned to his meal.
Riana, however, was watching me with renewed interest. As if she had sensed something in that moment, something she couldn't quite identify but knew instinctively to be significant.
"Rolli, my dear," Damon said, using the wrong name entirely, "we are honored to have you at our table tonight."
Riana's smile faltered for just an instant at the mistake before smoothing back into place. "It's Riana, Alpha. And the honor is mine."
"Yes, yes, of course. Riana." Damon waved a dismissive hand. "I must say, I was surprised to hear that Keith hadn't already claimed you as his mate. The alliance between our packs has been delayed far too long."
Riana's eyes glittered with triumph as she glanced at Keith. "I agree completely, Alpha. A bond as sacred as ours should not be ignored." She leaned closer to Keith, her shoulder pressing against his arm. "Besides, I don't think we'll be able to keep our hands off each other for much longer."