Chapter 11 - Rael #2
Isa giggled, turning to Silas. “Papa, Uncle Javi is trying to steal me.”
Silas walked closer, with his arms crossed. "Is he now? And what did you think of that?”
Isa acted as though she was thinking hard, her little face scrunched up. Then she smiled and told Silas. “I believe you are still my favorite. But you see, you must not tell Uncle Javi, because that will make him feel bad.”
“Hey! I heard that,” Javi said mock-offended, giving her to his brother. Isa immediately threw her arms around his neck and gave him a big kiss on his cheeks.
“You will always be my first choice, Papa.”
“Good answer,” Silas said, kissing the top of her head. "Very diplomatic.”
"You know what?” Elle suddenly clapped her hands. “We should all have dinner together. As a family.”
“That sounds good,” Javi stated. “But I don't—”
“There are no buts,” Elle said firmly. She pointed to Rael. “And Alanis should come. She is family, too.”
Rael began to shake his head. “I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
"Why not?" Elle arched a brow. “Because Javi is being an ass?”
Javi frowned. “Uhm, I'm right here.”
Ignoring him, Elle continued. “He will get over it, and the pack will too. They will get over it faster when they see us accepting her. Or because you're afraid she will be embarrassed?”
“All of the above,” Rael confessed.
"Well, too bad. We are a family, and that involves your mate. In addition, Sara has been longing to spend more time with her, and I believe Alanis needs some normality.”
Rael opened his mouth and closed it. He did not know how Alanis would react.
“This is a bad idea,” Javi said without any heat in his voice.
“Your concerns have been noted and dismissed," Elle said with a smile. “Rael, make sure Alanis is here at six. I am sure Sara will help her get something to wear, if she wants.”
"Elle…"
"Six o'clock, Rael. Don't make me go to your house and drag her here myself.”
Rael glanced at Silas, seeking his help. "You know better than to argue with her when she's made up her mind."
“Fine,” he sighed, turning to Elle. “But should this go wrong…”
“It won't. Trust me.”
Rael nodded tersely. He would relay the message to Alanis with the help of Sara.
Perhaps, it would be a good idea to have his sister with him to calm down some of the anxiety that Alanis was bound to have about the dinner, and maybe this might be a step toward getting her into the family on a proper basis.
To make her feel like she was a part of this place.
He could only hope Javi would behave himself.
***
Six hours later, Rael was standing outside Silas's house, his nerves shot to the roof, waiting for Alanis. Sara had sent him a message that they would be a little late, and Rael had been standing here the whole time, second-guessing the whole evening.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps coming his way and turned to see Sara, with Alanis, walking towards him.
His breath hitched. Alanis was in a dress—obviously one of Sara's.
It was a deep burgundy which made her creamy skin pop more.
It had a sweetheart neckline, which revealed enough of her cleavage to cause his mouth to dry, and it was mid-thigh, revealing legs that appeared to extend endlessly.
Her long dark hair was gathered in a high ponytail, showing off her neck, and she was wearing heels that raised her height by a few inches.
She was so beautiful and obviously out of her comfort zone, judging by the way she was pulling at the hem of the dress.
“Hold still,” Sara hissed as they approached. "You look amazing."
“This is too much. I should have just thrown on a pair of jeans and called it a day.”.
“You look beautiful.”
Both women stopped. Alanis locked eyes with him. “Sure,” she mumbled.
"Really." He was drawn to her helplessly. “You are... fuck, Alanis. You are so beautiful.”
“See,” Sara nudged her. “He is drooling over you. Told you.”
“I am not.” Rael began, but he had to stop because Sara was not quite mistaken. Having Alanis standing there looking like that was making him have a hard time forming coherent thoughts.
“Well, my work is done here. I am going in. You two take a moment.” Sara climbed up the stairs and walked into the house, leaving Rael and Alanis alone.
“You did not need to dress up,” Rael moved closer. "It's just a family dinner."
“Sara said I should make an effort.” Alanis glanced down at herself. “I feel like I'm playing dress-up.”
"You look perfect." Rael raised his hand and gently caressed her jaw. “But, if you don't feel like staying, just let me know, and we'll leave right now.”
"No, I want to." She shook her head. “Elle went through the trouble for this, and I would like to... I would like to try. To be a part of this.”
Warmth rushed into Rael's heart. “All right. But should you at any time feel like leaving, then you only have to say the word, and we'll be out of there. No questions.”
"Deal." She inhaled deeply. “Let's go in before I lose my nerves.”
Rael extended his arm to her, and she accepted it after a moment of hesitation. They climbed the steps together, and Rael tried to ignore the fact that it felt so natural to have her at his elbow like this—dressed up, going into his brother's house as a couple, about to have dinner with his family.
This was the way normal looked. This is what he desired their future to be. He just hoped they were able to make it through the night without any mishaps.
Dinner started surprisingly well.
Elle had outdone herself with the food. They had roasted chicken and vegetables, fresh bread, and something like a berry tart for dessert. The table had some candles and cloth napkins. Isa sat in her special chair between Silas and Elle.
Alanis was seated next to Rael, with Sara on her other side and August across from them. Javi was on the other end of the table, the farthest possible distance between him and Alanis.
The first thirty minutes were filled with easy conversations.
Sara continued to keep Alanis entertained with questions about her favorite foods and colors, and whether she had ever been to some cities.
Elle talked about tales of pack life and was careful to say nothing that Alanis would find embarrassing.
Silas, too, did his best, and his dry humor caused Alanis to laugh more than once.
Rael had his hand on her thigh, under the table. The dress had risen a little as she sat down, and the sensation of her bare flesh in his palm was like an aphrodisiac.
She gave him a quick glance but made no attempt to push his hand off. Rael started to make little circles on her inner thigh with his thumb. He maintained a neutral expression and became involved in the discussion of pack training schedules with August, his hand creeping upwards.
Alanis picked up her glass cup, her hands shaking a bit.
“So, Alanis," August said, drawing the attention of Rael back to the table. "Sara mentioned you were interested in observing training. How did that go?"
Alanis drank some water and replied. “The pack has excellent methods. It was... educational.”
“Educational,” Javi drawled at the other end of the table. "That's one way to describe it."
The table fell silent.
"Javi,” Silas sighed.
"What? I am only chatting about it.” His voice sounded deceptively calm. "I'm curious about what she found educational. The training or the drama that followed it?”
“It is never boring at training,” Sara said. “You remember last week when you and August had that fight over knife-work, and you almost stabbed one another?”
“That was no drama,” August shook his head. “It was a disagreement.”
“You threw a knife at his head!”
"I threw it past his head. There's a difference."
The tension simmered down a little as the table burst into laughter, but Rael could still feel Alanis stiffening next to him. His hand rubbed on her thigh in an effort to bring her back to earth.
“Uncle August threw a knife at Uncle Javi’s head?” Isa asked wide-eyed. "That's so cool!"
“That is not cool, and you should not throw knives at or in the head of anybody, Isabella.”
“But what if they are mean, mama?”
“Doesn't matter.”
Isa pursed her lips, then looked at Alanis. “You are pretty. I like your dress.”
“Thanks,” Alanis smiled. “I like your dress, as well. Is that a wolf on it?"
"Yeah!" Isa glanced down at her dress, which was covered with little cartoon wolves. “Papa says I will be able to shift into one some day, but first I must wait until I am bigger.”
“That is exciting,” Alanis said softly.
"Are you going to turn into a wolf?"
The table was again silent, but this time it was uncomfortable, not tense.
“No, sweetie," Alanis replied after a moment. “I cannot shift, but that's all right. There are many ways to be strong without shifting.”
"Oh, okay. But you can be in the pack. Right, Papa?"
Clearing his throat, Silas responded, "Right. Being in the pack is not only about shifting, but it is also about being loyal, brave, and protecting those who are dear to you. I am sure Alanis possesses all of the above.”
"Exactly," Elle agreed. “Some of the greatest wolves I know can’t shift. Your aunt Alanis is one of them.”
“Cool,” Isa nodded and went back to moving her vegetables about her plate.
The conversation continued on to less dangerous subjects like the approaching annual harvest festival and work that had to be done on the training ground.
In the midst of all these, Rael never removed his hand from Alanis's thigh.
His thumb moved higher, brushing dangerously close to where her thighs met, and she bit her lip.
"Rael," she whispered, so quietly only he could hear. "What are you doing?"
"Making sure you're okay," he murmured back, his lips barely moving.
"By trying to make me come to your brother's dinner table?"
His cock hardened at her words, at the breathless quality of her voice. "Is it working?"
She glared at him, but there was no real heat in it. Her hand dropped under the table, settling over his and stilling his movement. "Behave," she hissed.