Chapter 4: Her First Mate
After her brief talk with her parents, Vanya turned around and walked out of Randall’s office, and returned straight to her room. And for the better part of the afternoon, she didn't want to talk to anyone. She was irritated with Celeste for believing she could simply choose someone to be her life partner; she was also irritated with her adoptive for allowing his wife to have her way with it.
But Ares, she more angry with him; if he hadn't told Randall, none of this would have happened. She wouldn't have had to deal with Rowan and his mouth if Ares had just kept his mouth shut.
It’s all his damn fault!
She wanted to punch him in the face for telling on her, but she knew she’d never be able to knock his ass, so she just skipped dinner and slept it off.
Unfortunately, her starving, groaning stomach woke her up at 10:00 pm. So, with tired eyes, she left her room and walked downstairs. On her way to the kitchen, she found that everyone was still hard at work hanging decorations in the great hall. Garlands of pine cones and berries ran the length of the corridor. Colorful Flowers and clusters of decorated balls lining the runner of the tables, capturing the light from the candles lighting the hallway—all in preparation for Lord Alaric's arrival.
“What in the world?” she murmured under her breath as she continued to explore the hallways.
She also discovered that their pack's Chef de Cuisine, Chef Clara, as they call her, was not to be disturbed in her office while she prepared a massive meal for the feast, and that two of their deltas, along with their omegas, had volunteered to assist her in the kitchen. She was even surprised to find out that even their pack’s gammas had eagerly volunteered to join the decorating committee, led by her very eager sister, of course.
"Vanya, you’ve finally decided to come out of your cave!" She turned to find Selene herself leaving a group of omegas to make her way over to her.
"Shit." Vanya hissed under her breath. All she really wanted was to grab some leftover dinner from the kitchen and go back to her room. Now she had to deal with her.
Fuck. As a hunter, it's a good thing she was taught how to conceal her true feelings and even prevent others from reading her thoughts. Except for Alpha Callum and their gammas who rarely venture out of their burrows unless there's a special occasion. She supposed, like the Royal Alliance Visit.
"So, what do you think?" Selene asked. “I want everything to look more fun yet casual this year.
Vanya gazed around the hall for a moment, pretending to be awestruck by beauty that surrounded her. " I can't believe you've outdone yourself again this year. I thought it’s impossible, but…wow. Amazing."
Selene was in charge of the same decorating committee for the Annual Royal Alliance Visit last year and, if Vanya were to be honest, everything was set up the same as it had been the previous year. The same big chandelier was hanging from the ceiling; every wall was lined with the same long tables, each with its own collection of decorations; even the brightly lit torches were the same concept Selene used last year.
"Thank you. Mom thinks I should be an interior designer. Can you believe her?"
"I can. You’re very artistic." Telling Selene what she wanted to hear was such a natural thing for Vanya to do already.
"I know. And, though you were adopted and therefore lack our creative genes, please know that I appreciate inputs from simpleminded people. And as my adopted sister, I hold your opinion in high regard."
"Wow," was all she managed to say.
"I know." Selene looked proudly. "I’ve been telling myself that too. Lord Alaric and his family are on their way, and I can't wait to meet them. I'm looking forward to hearing him speak about how beautiful the place looks. And I can't wait to show Cassian around."
"Cassian?"
Selene looked at me and grinned. "Oh my god. You don’t know?"
"What?"
" Lord Alaric and his family will be accompanied by one of the Royal Council's knights from The Capitol."
"Really? Why?"
"Well, all thanks to your favorite rotter, they want to make sure Lord Alaric is safe while he’s here."
Vanya felt a pang of worry was over her right away. Randall said nobody should know what happened. Did mom tell Selene? But she knew her daughter would talk.
"Selene." She looked around, afraid that someone might overhear us. "Who told you about Killian?"
Selene smiled wickedly. "You mean your favorite rotter and how he hypnotized you?”
"Who told you?"
"I just heard about it. It’s no big deal."
"It is. No one must know. The Royal Council can't―shit."
"Sorry to burst your bubbles, dear sister, but I’m sure they can…you know…know shit."
She hastily shook her head. "Stop it. “I’m being serious. Have you told anyone about it? About Killian?"
"No. Why?"
"Good. Make sure you keep your mouth shut about it."
"Why?"
"Just do it!" She told her sister little forcefully, which didn’t really happen very often.
Selene crossed her arms over her chest. "You’re not the boss of me."
"I know you’re not. But Alpha Callum is and he told Dad not to tell anyone about the incident in the woods. And so, as per our alpha’s order, keep your mouth shut, will you?" She looked around again before she went on to add, "You go ahead and continue with your…interior designing."
Selene walked away from her with an irritated huff. And rather than going to the kitchen, Vanya went straight up to Ares’ room on the left-wing. She was still furious with him, but she needed to speak with him before talks of her encounter with Killian could spread out.
Slowly, she made her way up the stairs, cautious not to look up or make eye contact with anyone who might be surprised to see a hunter strolling down the left-wing. When she arrived on the landing, however, she was surprised to see no one there. She continued and walked quietly down the corridor.
As soon as she got closer to Ares' room, she noticed his door was slightly ajar, allowing her to peek inside and see what he was up to. But the door slammed shut before she could even get close enough to look through the gap.
As a hunter, Vanya could mask her scent and make her mind or thoughts completely off limits from everyone, with the exception of the Alpha and his Luna and everyone in rank -supposedly. But as Lachlan’s favorite and most curious hunter, she was secretly taught a technique on how to block high ranking shifters, even royals and alphas from reading and sensing her. Lachlan thought the ability would come handy for her.
Like, right now.
Vanya quick closed her eyes and concentrated on concealing her presence. And, for a brief moment, Vanya debated whether she should knock or simply return later. She recalled one time when she knocked on his door and saw him standing naked at the door. She was a little ashamed to intrude on his privacy, but he didn't seem bothered then. However, she was still pissed at Are and seeing him naked wouldn’t be favorable to her, so she took off, but then suddenly came to a halt as soon as she heard Ares’ guttural growl from inside his room.
Her heart thumped in her chest.
Is he angry? Should I knock to see if he’s all right?
She took a deep breath and, against her better judgment, raised her hand to knock on the door in front of her. She paused for a moment, staring at her feet before slowly exhaling once more. Then…
"…well, someone must have informed The Capitol about that damn rotter!" She swallowed hard when Alpha Callum’s voice boomed in the room.
"Yes," Ares replied in a similar tone of voice. "But I’m telling you it’s not Vanya. It can’t be her."
What? As Dad had pointed out, Killian was able to assert his superiority over me easily. Why would I tell those Capitol knuckleheads about my own flipping humiliating experience?
"Then you deal with this! I can’t have a spy or a traitor in my pack!" Alpha Callum yelled.
"Don’t you think a spy or a traitor is a strong word to use to describe someone who might be scared and only wants extra security against those rogues, father?"
"Are you out of your mind?! That person betrayed me the moment he or she reached out to that damn priestess at The Capitol and leaked the information about Killian. For fifty years, Ares, I've been the Alpha of The Black Hollows pack. I've shed blood and vowed to protect everyone in this pack from harm. We don't need the extra protection from those goddamn Royal pain-in-the-ass vampires. For fuck's sake, we're the second-largest pack in the West!"
"Then maybe all you have to do is reassure everyone in the pack exactly that."
"Reassure them? If they really believe in me, if they trust me enough to not let anything happen to them, I don't need to do anything! The traitor's action was an insult to both my leadership and myself."
"I don’t really think of it that way, father."
"Why are you so keen on defending the traitor? It’s really Vanya, isn’t it?"
"No! It’s not her, father. How many times do I have to tell you that?!"
What the hell has gotten into Alpha Callum? I don’t know anyone at The Capitol. Let alone a fucking priestess.
"Then find out who or I will have Lachlan deal with your mate."
Wait…what?
Vanya gulped. Her muscles stiffened. Her stomach knotted.
I’m Ares’ mate? What the fuck?!