Chapter 10 An Alpha’s Command
Isabella’s POV
The hall is already packed with guests by the time I make my way in, voices rising and falling in a steady hum. Laughter spills across the long wooden tables as plates clatter and cups are filled.
I stand beside him.
Landon.
That’s the first thing I become painfully aware of the moment I enter.
Because even without looking directly at him, I feel his presence like a weight pressing down on my chest. He sits at the head of the table, the expression on his face unreadable as he surveys his pack.
“Welcome everyone,” Landon’s voice cuts through the entire room as he begins, instantly silencing the hum of conversations.
All eyes turn to face him.
“To another gathering of the Silvermoon Pack,” he continues, his voice calm and controlled. “You may all eat. Drink and enjoy yourselves!”
The room responds instantly, their voices begin to rise again, louder this time. Meanwhile, I’m still standing there like a statue, my fingers tightening slightly around the plate I’m holding, careful not to let it shake too much.
It’s filled with neatly arranged food, prepared for serving, but my hands still tremble no matter how hard I try to steady them.
I don’t move.
Not until—
“Oh for fuck’s sake,” Clara’s voice slices through everything, sharp and irritated. “Are you planning to stand there like a damn statue all night?”
She’s seated a few seats down away from Landon, relaxed back in her chair like she owns the room, one leg crossed over the other. Her eyes rake all over me with open disdain.
“I’m talking to you, filthy rogue!”
“Start serving everyone. That’s what you’re here for, isn’t it?”
Heat crawls up my neck, but I nod slightly, bending my head. “Y…yes, Lady Clara.” I step forward on instinct, forcing my legs to move even though I’m literally shaking right now.
Clara’s eyes are still on me the entire time, utter disgust etched across her face. Beside her Sarah sits calmly, her posture straight, her gaze flicking toward me briefly, then she turns and looks away.
And next to her—
Owen Riley.
I recognize him instantly even without an introduction—Alpha Landon’s Beta. There’s a calm strength in the way he carries himself, his attention is only focused on the room and Landon the entire time.
My legs begin to move.
One step
Then another.
I begin serving the nearest guests, carefully placing food onto their plates, my hands trembling just enough to make it difficult. I try to force them to be steady, but it's nearly impossible.
Get yourself together, Isabella!
I move down each line, avoiding eye contact as I try to focus only on the task assigned to me. Serve. Move. Serve again.
That’s all I need to do—
“Well, well…”
A voice echoes from my right, low and amused.“Didn’t know Alpha Landon started keeping pretty little rogues as servants,” the man continues, his eyes roaming all over my body with something that makes my skin crawl.
I step closer to him, keeping my eyes down as I move to serve his plate. Before I can realize anything, his hand shoots up and slaps my ass—hard.
“Please…” the words roll off me quickly, “Just let me—”
“Oh?” he cuts in, leaning back in his chair as his gaze drags slowly over me. “She speaks.”
A ripple of laughter tears through the entire table, instead of backing off, he leans forward. Then his hand moves.
Fast.
He catches my wrist mid-air.
“I said, please,” I try again, softer this time, my hands tightening slightly around the serving plate.
“Careful,” he murmurs, his grip tightening just enough to make me flinch. “A filthy rogue like you doesn't get to tell me what to do.”
“I…” Please.” Pain shoots through my wrist as I try to pull back. “You’re hurting me.”
He doesn’t let go.
If anything, his grip tightens harder, digging into my skin hard enough to bruise. “You should be grateful,” he growls, “A rogue getting attention? That’s a privilege.”
Laughter ripples out around us again—louder this time.
“Please… let go…”
“Oh come on,” he mocks, tilting his head. “Don’t act shy now…I’m sure you’re used to being handled this way.”
I shake my head quickly, my voice breaking. “I’m not…please—”
He squeezes harder, and pain explodes through my wrist, sharp and sudden as I squeeze my eyes shut.
“P—“
“Let go of her hand.”
A voice cuts through the table like a blade.
Everything stops.
The laughter dies instantly, and silence crashes down over the room.
“Didn’t you hear me?” The voice speaks again, colder this time. “Let. Her. Go.”
My eyes snap open, and slowly, I turn my head to see that Landon is no longer seated at the head of the table.
His gaze is locked on the man’s grip on my hands. The man lets out a short laugh, like he thinks it’s a joke.
“Relax, Alpha, I was just—”
He doesn’t get to finish.
One second, Landon is standing at the head of the table.
The next—
He’s right in front of him.
I don’t even see him move.
Because the next thing I see is his hand stretched out, gripping the man’s throat tight, unforgiving.
A sharp gasp tears from the man as his chair crashes backward, his body lifted clean off the ground like he weighs nothing.
“I gave you a fucking order!” He growls.
Everyone gets up from their seats immediately, shock etched across their faces as their eyes flicker to Landon, then to the man.
“Y…you—” the man chokes on his words as he tries to speak.
Landon tilts his head slightly, his voice dropping into something low and lethal. “Did you think I was joking? When your Alpha gives you an order you fucking obey!”
A strangled sound escapes the man’s throat as she tries to speak again.
And I just stand there.
Frozen.
Because I don’t understand what the hell is going on right now.