Mia disengaged from the hug and walked to Steph to talk.
Steph's eyes diverted to Alex, who was still standing where Mia had left him.
"I'll get a maid to bring your water over, Steph," she said and walked to Alex.
"Alex," she called and held his hands, walking down the staircase to meet Zayn.
"This is my cousin Zayn, and Zayn, this is my husband, Alex. He's the alpha of the Crystal Moon pack; you might have known that beforehand," she said and stood beside Alex with a smile on her face as she introduced the two.
The tension between the two males was rising as Alex looked at Zayn with emotionless, intimidating eyes.
Zayn returned the gaze, and they kept staring at each other until Alex held out his hands and put them around Mia's waist. He then held his second hand and offered Zayn a handshake.
"Hi, Zayn. I am Mia's husband, like she has said," he said, emphasizing the word 'husband.'
A small chuckle came from behind as Cade suppressed the laugh in him.
Alex was jealous of Zayn's interaction with Mia, which made him act like he did.
The trio's eyes turned to Cade, and he kept a straight face, only to burst out laughing followed by Steph, Kal, and Mia.
"So intimidating," Steph whispered to Kal, and they erupted with yet another round of laughter, which made Alex and Mia scrunch their brows in confusion.
Zayn had a bitter expression on his face when he saw the mocking look in Rain's eye.
"What brings about all the laughter?" Stella's voice rang from above.
The intense laughter from the friends came to an abrupt stop when they heard Steph's intimidating voice, their faces replaced by a long stern one.
"Oh. my moon goodness! You're here Zayn," Stella beamed and hurried down the staircase to meet Zayn with a bright smile on her face.
"Easy, Stell, those stairs are slippery, and a fall could get you badly injured," Alpha Jayden's voice rang out as Stell ran down the staircase.
Stell gave no heed to his words and continued running down the staircase to meet Zayn.
Mia held Alex's hand and stood out of the way for Stell.
Her arms were spread out as she took Zayn's body, engulfing him in an embrace.
"Good day, aunt," Zayn greeted in Stell's arms.
"How are you, my favorite child?" she said, throwing a hint of spite at Alex.
"How are you, Zayn," Alpha Jayden greeted from behind.
"Good day, Uncle," Zayn said, putting more emphasis on the word "uncle" instead of being informal, as Alpha Jayden.
"We were about to go out now, but since everyone's here, why don't we share a meal together?" Mia suggested.
"That's a good idea," Alpha Jayden said agreeingly to Mia's words.
Steph and the rest took a look at Mia and Alex who were emitting a forbearing aura, sending shivers down their spines.
"That man looks so stone-faced, but yet is very good to Mia," Kal whispered to Cade.
"Why do you think he was jealous when Mia hugged Zayn? It's because he cares and he loves her," Steph joined in the gossip.
"Will you stop gossiping, I bet that he can hear what you all are saying. Look at him, his gazes are on you, which means he can listen to what you're saying," Rain said to the trio who were already engrossed in their little gossips.
"That's impossible, he's so far away from us," Kal argued.
"He's an Alpha of one of the biggest packs, Kal," Rain said to Kal. “He can hear your heartbeat from miles away." Steph added, having realized the situation.
"But, don't you all see that Zayn's trying to show off Luna's favoritism to him? He's being so informal," Cade added, not minding if Alex could hear them.
"Yes, that's because Luna Stella had always wanted Mia to marry Zayn before it was decided in the council that Mia and Alpha Alex should get married," Steph added again not minding Rain's constant reminder that Alex might be listening to their words.
Alex darted his eyes at the gossiping trio who shut their mouths immediately, readjusting their seats on the dining table.
His eyes were trying to suppress the dimming inferno of anger and jealousy boiling inside him.
When he heard their talks about Mia getting married to Zayn and her hugs earlier, it made him clench his fists.
His hands were held by Mia who noticed his behavior.
"Let's go sit," Stella said and walked to the dining table with Zayn beside her.
They all sat down while a number of maids came in with trays of food of different delicacies.
A broccoli was placed in front of Alex, which made him scrunch his face.
"Take this plate back, Alex doesn't like broccoli. You can bring in another vegetable," Mia ordered the maid and pushed the plate of food away from Alex.
Zayn's eyes darted to Mia, who was holding Alex's hand under the table.
"Mia, my dear, can you remember what Zayn likes and what he doesn't?" Stell chipped in, trying to make Alex uncomfortable.
Another plate of vegetable sauce was placed in front of Alex, and Mia took it from the maid.
"No, mother. I do not know anything about what Zayn's likes or dislikes. I only know my husband's preferences," she said, still checking the vegetables.
"And for that, you take this away. This sauce is too cooked, and my husband doesn't like it," Mia said, returning the plate of vegetables back to the maid.
Stell's face was filled with disappointment at Mia's words of response.
The whole table got silent except for the silent chatters of Steph and Kal.
They ate in silence, with everyone retiring to their rooms when they were done eating.
"We'll come back again tomorrow, Mia, and then we can have our fun," her group of four friends assured her before they left the house.