Serve

Serve
Alea's POV

I was surprised by Kairo's but I figured out exactly what it meant the moment he cleared his throat. Then I chuckled and stood on my toes, leaning closer to his ears as I whispered to him.

“Sage can't take me away from you, Alpha” I teased him and he turned to me, blinking his eyes multiple times like he had just been caught doing something bad.

“Who said he was?” He whispered back and even Elder laughed.

Then I stood upright again, smiling at them all. Sage pinched the bridge of his nose as he looked away from Kairo and I awkwardly.

“We will leave now, Alea” Elder was the one who broke the tension and I nodded.

I moved over to Raven and patted his back, since Kairo doesn't want me to give them a hug.

“Thanks Raven. For always being there and for giving me confidence” I said. I haven't forgotten the incident with Valen and how Raven had told me it wasn't my fault. That boosted my confidence then.

He smiled, patting my shoulder too and then an idea crept up my mind.

I turned to them all, smiling widely.

“What do you think about living in the pack? Closer to the palace here?” I asked, my face darting between everyone in front of me including Kairo.

His opinion matters too.

It would be great to have them here since they are the only family I have now.

“We could move the refugee camp here and we could also create a room for the relics here wherever you want” I said, still wanting a response from them.

Even to me, it sounded like I wanted to convince them to stay. Even though a part of me knew they wouldn't want to, I still gave it a try.

Elder smiled, slowly facing me. “We can't leave there, Alea,” he said.

I knew it.

“That had been the home for the relics for decades. It had been our home, we can't leave there” He added and my mouth went shut.

“That's right Alea. It would have been nice to stay here but we have to stay at the refugee camp” Sage said and I nodded in understanding, though I didn't want to understand it.

“Instead, we will visit more often. Sometimes, we can visit Valen's tombstone too” Raven said and then I smiled.

“Okay then” I said.

“And about Dera, Alea,” Sage said, making me recall how my so-called cousin had tried to kill me and had gotten away.

“We will find her. We will get her” He said and I nodded, pressing my lips into a thin line.

“Thank you” I said.

“Then we shall take our leave” Sage said, and then they bowed.

Even the Elder went on his knees and I knew that I wouldn't be able to stop him even if I wanted to.

“Stay healthy, Queen. We will be here when you need us” He said and I smiled, lifting him up.

“Stay healthy too, Elder Darin” I smiled, “You too” I said, facing Raven and Sage.

They smiled back at me and then they left without turning back.

I moved closer to Kairo, tugging at his arms.

“I really wish they would stay,” I said, my voice low.

“They said they can't, Alea. They've got a lot of things to protect back there” Kairo said as I rested my head on his arms.

“I know”

Then a maid walked in. “Sorry for the disturbance, Alpha, Queen” She said, bowing to us one after the other.

“It's okay. What's it?” Kairo asked.

“I have come to ask if you will be joining the rest of the palace for dinner today or if you would like your meal to be delivered to your room” she asked.

“Serve our meal with the others” Kairo said and she bowed, exiting the main hall.

“Shall we go eat?” He asked and I nodded with a smile.

He tried lifting me off the ground but I jumped past his arms with some martial skills.

“No. Don't” I said, glaring at him like I was at war.

That made him chuckle. “Why?”

“Because it's weird” I laughed too.

It really was weird having him carry down to the horse earlier even though I enjoyed it. I knew he was about to do the same to the dining hall but I wasn't going to allow him.

We walked to the dining hall hand in hand like we were attending some royal banquet. Everyone was standing, their head bowed deeply.

We stopped, using a moment to study the gathering. I sighted Cassie who was also standing among the others and I could say this was almost the first time I'd see her bow this deeply for either Kairo or I.

Kairo walked me to the seat prepared for us. He sat at the head of the table while I sat down beside him.

“Sit” he ordered the moment we sat down.

They all did and then the maids stepped forward, taking a spoon from the set of wares beside the meal. She dug into the Alpha's meal and took a spoon into her mouth. Then after some minutes, Kairo also took a spoonful of the meal.

Then after seeing that the Alpha had taken a spoonful of the meal, the rest of the people surrounding the table all began to eat.

It was something I realized was a custom when I got here. The fact that a maid first had to taste the Alpha's meal before he could taste it, and the fact that the others must watch the Alpha eat before they all start eating.

That was a show of respect. Something that the pack members here truly value.

“How about a toast? To the success of the ritual that will be carried out in days” Cassie's voice rang through the room and I stared at her.

I really couldn't understand her. And as much as I've been trying to since a few hours ago, I couldn't.