58- The Elders’ Banquet
POV Lunara Grimwald:
Just as it had been with Anton, Lyris, and Andrei, Edric trusted Aldren.
"That’s right, my son," agreed Aldren, the elder without ears. "The premature death of the little wolf was an affront to all of us. Although it happened in Edric’s territory, it still affects us. After all, a pack attacked one of ours, and they deserve to pay with death."
I ran my palm through my hair, pushing it behind my shoulder. I wanted to feel something about this—anything at all.
Nausea, sickness, sorrow, melancholy. But I felt nothing. Absolutely nothing. They were ordering the death of my pack, of the packs where I had been raised and lived my entire life. And still, I did not mourn.
I did not mourn the death of those who had surrounded me throughout my existence, because they did not deserve my compassion. Unfortunately, they were reflections of the alphas who commanded them, and nothing could be done.
That was why they had threatened to rape me while dragging me to Alessio; that was why they had killed little Ruda—because no life was important enough for them.
Edric pulled his arm away but dragged his chair closer to mine, so near that our shoulders touched.
I lifted the wine glass and took another sip, a little less nervous than before.
"Eat something, dear Lunara. Do you have a preference for anything in particular?" asked the elder without eyes, his tone kind.
I smiled in gratitude and picked up a piece of bread, feeling far too observed. All the alphas had their attention on me, and it was not comfortable.
"Thank you," I whispered.
"Help yourselves, children, or the food will grow cold," said another elder, extending his arms. "I’m glad you’re all here, as well as the respective companion receiving her due respect," he added, casting a sidelong glance at Edric before turning to me with a friendly smile.
They treated the alphas as if they were their own children, with love and care. I also noticed that the alphas respected them above all else. The feeling was mutual—there was as much affection from the elders toward the alphas as from the alphas toward them.
For a few minutes, the only sounds were cutlery and chewing, while we ate the feast that had been served.
I took as little as possible, dying of embarrassment. As if noticing, Edric placed more food on my plate without saying a single word.
He was behaving differently, perhaps dominated by his wolf, surrounded by so many powerful alphas. It was just a way for him to mark his territory over me.
SaTharengard moved around us, filling empty cups.
I finished dinner feeling satisfied and far less nervous. The elders were not what I had expected. They were good, affectionate, and helpful. They loved the wolves and their packs, caring deeply for them and their well-being.
"Lunara, do you like sweets?" asked the elder without ears.
"Yes," I confirmed, dabbing the corners of my mouth with a cloth napkin before placing it beside my empty plate.
He smiled and snapped his fingers. SaTharengard immediately left the room.
"I had some chocolate dishes prepared for you. I heard that females love chocolate."
I blinked, surprised.
"Thank you."
SaTharengard returned, carrying a golden tray with several small dessert plates. He set them down in front of me, one by one.
"Since we didn’t know your preference, we made one of each," said the elder without eyes.
I felt… moved. It was one of the first genuine acts of kindness I had received since arriving among the Tharnak and becoming involved with the wolves.
"This is very… kind. I’m very grateful," I whispered, my voice no more than a breath as my throat tightened.
"Don’t you serve sweets to your female?" Sullivan mocked. Edric snorted and ignored him.
"At least she’s an easy wolf to keep happy, just serve a little chocolate," Konrad joked.
I picked up one of the desserts made with chocolate and biscuit, shaped like a salami. It had a sprinkling of walnuts on top, which made it even more delightful.
The last time someone had given me something sweet had been on my birthday—the cake Elowen had stolen for me. My throat tightened as soon as I thought of my sister, while an overwhelming wave of nostalgia washed over me.
Gods, I was so worried about her.
How was she managing without me? I knew she was safe, because Alessio’s males were after me and all of them had been killed by Edric’s hands. Besides, Elowen had not yet shifted, which kept her safe, since she did not smell strongly of wolf enough to be tracked easily.
But… that did not make things any better.
I wanted my sister by my side. I needed to know my little one was well.
I felt Edric’s gaze burn into me. He sensed my sadness and was suspicious.
I swallowed the sweet and forced my thoughts of Elowen away, keeping her far from my mind.
"We are sorry for your family, Lunara. It must have been hard to lose them in such a tragic way," murmured the elder without eyes, as if he too had sensed my melancholy.
"It was… unexpected," I hissed.
Edric’s gaze was once again on me, scorching my skin. I ignored him again, focusing on the wonderful desserts in front of me.
"Did you also spend fifty years mourning, or was yours quicker?" Sullivan sneered.
Edric’s hands clenched tightly around the arms of his chair.
"Sullivan… I won’t warn you again," one of the elders scolded.
I studied each of them, observing. Sullivan and Edric seemed to have… a certain animosity. Meanwhile, Aldren appeared to be Edric’s friend, and the other alpha, Konrad, was a friend to all of them. But… there was an empty chair at the table, with place settings laid out, as if they were waiting for someone.
Five alphas.
That was what Lyris had told me, but there were only four at dinner. Apparently, one of them did not care enough to be present.
I went back to eating, listening to them discuss tactics and ways to dismember all the wolves that might invade their territories. It was not a very pleasant conversation for dinner, but none of them seemed disgusted by it.
How could they do this? I would never understand.
Just hearing them talk made me want to vomit all the meat I had eaten.