The Empty Seat

The atmosphere was suddenly tense. The crowd ended when Alice appeared at the entrance. All eyes in the dining room were on her anticipating her every move.

Alice made a quick count in one glance. There were about sixteen chairs at the large dining table and three of them happened to be empty or perhaps had been vacated for her.

The two empty seats were on Vincent's right and left. The other one was in the middle, between two men Alice didn't recognize. By the way Vincent sat at the very end, the same place he sat this afternoon. There was a senior at the other end and out of all of them there were only three female members one of whom was Bella.

Alice lowered her head, trying to think of the right words of greeting to greet everyone. Before that Bella suddenly stood up from her spot, startling everyone.

"Wait! You ransacked Renésmee's room?" she immediately pointed at Alice in a cold manner.

"Uh…?" Alice immediately apologized because she thought she did. Is that a serious offense? But she already tidied it up. Bella could check the room and if anything went wrong, Alice would immediately rearrange it.

"Take off the fur robe!"

When Bella mentioned the fur robe, everyone started paying attention to the robe Alice was wearing.

While the men just glanced at her strangely and in amazement, Margareth, the second woman at the dining table, joined in chattering. "Isn't that Rene's robe?"

That scarce fur robe. Actually everyone had noticed it ever since they saw Alice. And if Bella didn't mention it, they wouldn't know that Alice had been allowed to fill Renésmee's room.

"Take off the robe now!" Bella oppresses Alice again.

What's wrong with the situation? A certain someone said Alice 'must' wear this fur robe. Alice thought they all made the deal. She glanced at Vincent, demanding an explanation.

"Vincent gave this robe to me." Alice threw the hot potato at the man who had been mute ever since. Alice just said truthfully, "he said I have to use it if I want to leave the room or…you all might try to kill me."

After she finished speaking she realized that she was dragging everyone with her. To be honest, wearing a fur robe in the summer is a bit strange. Alice could feel sweat starting to build up under the fur robe she was wearing.

In the end Alice decided to take off the fur robe. She had unbuttoned the front and was ready to take off the robe, before it fell off, Vincent opened his mouth.

"Put it back on!"

Everyone turned to him. Especially Bella, the woman looked at him in disbelief. "It belongs to Renésmee. You're going to let her use it?"

Wasn't it obvious that it was Vincent who gave the robe to Alice?

Bella just couldn't believe it. Everything related to Renésmee was always under Vincent's control. As a Luna, everything she owns is always different from the others, unique and always made of the best materials.

The fur robe wasn't just any random fur robe. They are made from the fur of a rare female Red Wolf from the southeast region. Although they were only classified as wild animals that couldn't transform, they and the werewolves had looked after each other since ancient times.

There were not many Red Wolves now. They were hunted by the evil Draconians and Vampires during the war. They made robes of red wolf fur to be able to infiltrate the Seth Valley.

It was perfect for camouflaging in enemy territory. This red wolf fur robe can mask the scent of any tribe and make the wearer smell like a wolf (or werewolf).

Of course it was forbidden for a werewolf to wear a red wolf's fur coat.

An exception was made especially for Renésmee as she was a half-Vampire with a unique scent. The robes were given to Renesmee so she could mingle in the Seth Valley with the common werewolves.

As for Alice… Everyone was waiting for Vincent's explanation.

"It's me. I am the one who gave the robe to her for use. You know… she stinks. I don't want the smell to bother anyone."

Bella knew that Alice did have a unique scent just like Renésmee. However Alice didn't smell that bad, she smelled even better. Should she even wear that special robe?

"You! … just sit near Noah," Vincent said.

Which also had another meaning: Sit close to me!

Noah who was called by name smirked. He was half happy and half worried. If Alice had to sit near him, she would be between herself and Vincent. After all, the empty seat next to him was supposed to be Jacob's. Even though he rarely appeared, who knew if he would come tonight?

Alice could actually fill Renésmee's empty seat. That's another empty seat next to Vincent. The problem is, the seat happens right next to Bella. After the debate over the furry robes it felt safer for them to be separated.

Noah had just pulled out a chair for Alice to sit on when Jacob appeared at the entrance following Alice's arrival.

"Oh, Jacob? Will you come to dinner with us?" Simon greeted him with great cheer. Because he would only sit at the dinner table on certain occasions such as Renésmee's birthday.

Jacob ignored his friend, the man's eyes immediately fell on Alice who was about to sit in her chair. Everyone knew where Jacob was looking and Alice was once again being everyone's target.

"Um, Is this your seat?"

"You can sit there." Jacob let Alice take his seat. Then he walked over and boldly pulled up Renésmee's empty chair.

Even Vincent didn't let Alice fill the chair. Is it okay for Jacob to sit there?

Everyone thought it would be a new commotion to make the dinner even more festive but after a couple of times Vincent didn't say anything. He instead introduces Alice and announces that Alice will stay at Grégory Castle until Renésmee is found.

Even though Alice sounded like a prisoner, at the end of his words Vincent asked the pack members to treat Alice well.

They all just agreed, except for Bella who suddenly looked at Alice with hostility.

It's like a bar or notification hitting her head hard.

[ WARNING!!! A new opponent detected. ]

[ Are you ready to fight? ]