Chapter12–A table for five

Alcot POV

Chapter Soundtrack: Paint The Town Red by Doja Cat

Walking into the dinning room to see a table of four having breakfast wasn't exactly the way I had pictured my morning. Especially not one with Arabella's wedding-crasher friend or Willow. And as usual, I did not fail to express my distaste at the small gathering. 

"Why is she here, mother?" I eyed the girl before shifting my glare to Willow. "And her too."

"I asked them to join me for breakfast." My mother replied to me with an air of nonchalance. One that dared me to do whatever I wanted. 

"You invited strangers over for breakfast at our royal dining." I rephrased her statement, the words sounding ridiculous and outrageous in my own ears. What was my mother even up to?

"Have a seat, Alcot. Your food is getting cold. There's bagels too. Your favorite." My mother ignored my words and did not spare me a glance as she arranged some food in front of my regular high seat.

I scoffed and bit my lips, feeling anger flowing through my veins. I tried my best to control my emotions and be the bigger person this time. Without another word, I pulled back my seat and sat on it. My eyes lifted to take a look at the girl again. Bloyd. Although I was enraged at her presence, I couldn't help but take notice of how ravishingly beautiful she looked this morning as the sunlight that seeped through the window landed on her forehead, leaving a beautiful golden tint on her long, brown hair. She was wearing a plain, milky colored gown that looked like one of Arabella's night dresses. I wondered how she managed to look this enthralling without any makeup on.

I slapped myself mentally. I shouldn't be letting my thoughts wander this way. She almost ruined my perfect plans and my night only a few nights ago. If anything, I should be wishing her dead and planning to execute her. Not admiring her annoying beauty. 

"I cannot believe you referred to me as a stranger, Alcot." Thankfully, Willow's voice broke me from my trance and I was brought back into reality. 

"You are and will continue to be a stranger to me until the day you become my mate." I answered simply and took a small bite from my dish of creamy waffle. 

My response seemed to shut Willow for a moment and just when I was about to thank the heavens for silencing her, she came up with her comeback again.

"You know, you should be thankful that my father gave you a second chance. By now, our packs would have been on head heels with each other. My father would have easily crushed you, Alcot."

I scoffed and stared at her like she was a little child who had said the most absurd thing I had ever heard in my entire life. 

My mother interceded on time before I would open my mouth and send Willow a deadlier comeback. 

"Of course, we are aware of that, Willow dear. And we are grateful for the second chance to make things right once again. Very soon, you and Alcot will be mated and become one. But of course, that would be after we break the bond between him and the human girl."

"What if I say no?" The attention of everyone at the table was drawn to Bloyd who continued to eat carefreely as if she had not uttered what she said a second ago. 

"I mean, he is a hot catch. What if I am crushing on him and do not want to let go just yet?" She raised her head to look at our shocked faces. A small, mischievous smile played on her lips and I was convinced she was definitely playing mind games on us. After all she had seen and witnessed, I had expected her to be shaky and scared but it was quite the opposite. She didn't seem even a little fazed by any of this. If anything, it seemed she was deriving great joy from being a leech on my skin. 

At this point, I was beginning to reconsider my decision of releasing her from the dungeon. I shouldn't have let Arabella talk me into letting her walk freely around the walls of the castle. 

"You don't seem to be missing your family as much as I thought." My mother spoke, her face as blank and pale as ever. The kind of expression is slips on whenever she was burning hot with rage inside. 

"I don't have a family." Bloyd answered without blinking. There was no sign of remorse on her face either. Instead, all I saw in her eyes was something that looked like anger…and thirst for vengeance. "They were killed."

"Oh, well, that's a pity." My mother had a small satisfactory smile on her face now. Was she enjoying this? 

A little part of me felt sorry for the girl and the anger inside of me softened. I was instantly teleported back to the moment twenty two years ago, when I was only six years old. It was one of the most unforgettable year in the whole pack when my father had ordered the killing of all infants during the year of the red moon. I had watched him order his soldiers to mercilessly slaughter little innocent infants and kill the families of those who tried to protect their child. The gruesome sight had sent shivers down my spines and caused me to cry as a little boy but my father had pulled me closer to him, sat me on his laps and told me;

"An Alpha does what has to be done to protect his throne. He doesn't show emotions or any signs of weaknesses. And neither should a future Alpha."

His words had remained with me all these years and even after his death. Those words had shaped me into the kind of Alpha I had become. Merciless, cold, heartless and feared by everyone. However, I had never been able to forget what had happened on the year of the red moon. It haunted me in my sleep and everytime I closed my eyes. If only I was able to save those children from my father's wrath.

"I'm so sorry about what happened with your family, Bloyd." Arabella's voice was heavy with pity. My sister had always been the emotional one. 

"I guess I'm sorry too." Willow cleared her throat and spoke next. "Was your parents' killers ever found? Did they get to pay for what they did?"

"No." Bloyd's jaw set and I noticed how she griped tighter to her fork. "But I don't plan to let them go scot-free."

"How?" I was surprised that Willow was invested in Bloyd's story. Was she enjoying the girl's mysery or was she genuinely sorry for her?

"I'll do things my way." A small determined smile crossed Bloyd's lips. "You'll see."

She dropped her cutleries and got up from her chair. "Thank you for inviting me for breakfast. I think I'm full." She said and locked eyes with me for a few seconds before leaving the dinning room.

A young human girl going after her parents' murderers? I'd like to see her try.