Chapter Forty-Three

Reed is fast asleep and I'm careful not to wake him. It's still early, too early to be wandering the halls, but I couldn't sleep and I need to get out of bed or I'll go crazy. I sit in the balcony and the cool morning air hits my skin. The garden is well-tended and there's a variety of bushes and flowers around. There's a gardener mowing the grass and others tending the flowers. It's strange to see something so ordinary happen here.

I hear a loud yawn and I realize Reed is awake. He saunters towards me, naked, and moves to stand next to me on the balcony.

"No, wait, they'll see you."

He frowns. "Who?"

"The gardeners."

He looks at me funny like I said something that doesn't make any sense. I don't know if it has to do with the term 'gardeners' or mentioning that they might see him naked. In any case, I shrug. This is his world, and he should know how to deal with it.

The greenery stretches as far as the eye can see. How many humans come across houses like this in the middle of the forest? How did they build these here? Just transporting the necessary materials to build this place here must have taken days, if not weeks. This was hard, strenuous work.

"Do you think we'll stay two more nights?" I ask.

"Possibly. We still haven't discussed anything concrete, we're just exchanging pleasantries so far."

I groan. I don't want to stay here for another minute. I want to leave. After yesterday, I don't want to face any of those Alphas and Lunas. Not after what they told me about Raphas taking Amanda as a mate. I close my eyes when I think of it. It makes me sick still. Yesterday, I couldn't return to the table. Reed picked me up from the ground and carried me to our room and I haven't left since. I don't care what they'll think of me, bonded to one but in love with another. They did it on purpose. They wanted to see me act this way, especially that Luna Elizabeth. Her tone was mocking. She knew I would react badly to that news. I don't know how, but she did.

"They've been asking about you."

"They can go to hell." I say through gritted teeth.

"We're their guests, Bea. Besides, it's not their fault Raphas took another female as a mate." He says this to spite me and I glare at him.

"You're happy with all this, aren't you?"

"I knew this would happen. I warned you."

I scoff. "Warned me."

He tugs at his hair. "What do you want from me, Bea? Am I a clown to you, is that it? Do I amuse you?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I do everything in my power to please you, but all you do is think about him and talk about him. How do you think it makes me feel?" He's shouting, but I don't care.

"This is all your fault!" I shout. "You had to bite me to get back at him and you ruined everything for me! I could have returned to him and he wouldn't be with that slut Amanda!"

"Again with this?" He flares his nostrils. "You're messing with the wrong Alpha, Bea. I won't entertain you any longer." He starts walking away and I shout, "Fine! Go! Everyone always ends up leaving me, anyways. Even my own fucking mother left me so she could be with another man." I'm sobbing and he stops and turns back around. No, I shouldn't be pitying myself like this. Not around him. Not right now. But I can't help myself. It all just crashes into me and I can't stop the tears.

He sits next to me and I wipe my face angrily. I don't want him to see me like this, but at this point that's senseless. He already heard everything I had to say.

We sit staring at each other until we hear a knock on be door. It's Alpha Romain himself, informing us that breakfast is served.

I contemplate my options. I could stay here and brood and look like a weakling for the others to jeer at, or I can face this like the woman I am and get this event done and over with. I splash cold water on my face and dress in my best attire. Those old crows won't defeat me.

I take Raphas' arm and we descend the stairs together. They're all standing and watching us approach with their hawk-like eyes. I square my shoulders and walk confidently towards the table. I take my seat next to Luna Agatha, and her greeting is warmer this morning.

"Luna Bea, are you alright? You disappeared yesterday."

"I was indisposed. I'm fine now, thank you." I force a smile.

I don't touch my plate. They're discussing trivial things, previous events and weak Alphas. Reed keeps looking at me and it frustrates me. He needs to stop. I'm fine.

I push Raphas and Amanda to the back of my head. I need to focus on this, on them. On this conversation.

"We're to expect more Alphas and Lunas from other packs." Alpha Romain says with a mouth full of grapefruit. "The matter we have to resolve is uncommon and peculiar."

"Not so uncommon, I think." Reed says, and that's exactly what I was thinking. "There are hundreds of rogues in the woods."

Alpha Romain forces a smile. "You'll understand the severity of it in a minute, Alpha Reed." He stabs a segment of grapefruit with his fork and shoves it in his mouth.

I look around the table. There's something very strange about all this. Reed senses this as well. There's something they aren't telling us, something they're hiding and all of them are in on it except us."

We finish breakfast and Alpha Romain tells us that Bertha will inform us of the meeting's time. Meanwhile, we can explore the place. He, his Luna and the other couple go down the hall. I turn to Reed.

"Something is off."

He nods. "I noticed."

"Do you think we should just leave?"

"We have nowhere to go. Desmond will only be arriving in two days or so. Besides, leaving an event like this without leave from the hosting Alpha is regarded as disrespect. There's nothing we can do but wait and see how all of this unfolds."

I don't agree with him. If it were up to me, I'd leave right now. Something big is going to happen, I can just feel it.