Chapter 49
Chapter Forty-Nine
~Harlow~
I dress quickly in the clothes Thane left before making my way to the bathroom door.
I peer out, finding the Den empty. There are no windows down here, and I know there is no escape from his wrath.
Dread pools low in my stomach as I try to move silently across the floor, only for the first step of the basement stairs to creak as I set my weight on it.
The sound is loud in the quiet room, and I suddenly don't want to leave the safety it offers, however slight it may be.
Yet I know if I don't go up there, chances are Thane will pull me from his Den and throw me out of his house by my hair.
Sucking in a breath, I twist the handle and open the door to discover the smell of Chinese food filling the air.
My belly growls hungrily, but I ignore it, gauging my chances of running to the door without them noticing, which means running past the dining room.
Recognizing how stupid that thought is, I close the door and move toward the dining room. Better to get this over with. Just rip off the Band-Aid, as they say. I wonder briefly how long it will take to walk back to the city, or to Tal's to see if I could maybe work there.
As I walk in, I find them sitting and talking at the dining table. Thane is watching them, and Leon is beaming happily about something. Thane's glare turns murderous when his gaze shifts to me.
"Sit, Zara," Thane says, pointing to the chair at the end of the table, furthest from everyone. That is fine by me. It means I am closer to the front door if I have to make a run for it. A quick escape.
His words cause the rest of them to turn their attention to me.
I swallow, my heart pounding in my chest as I sit down.
They all have plates in front of them, untouched.
I’m surprised when Rhen gets up and places one in front of me before returning to his seat.
They feel miles away. Instead of dinner, this reminds me of one of their conference meetings.
"Thank you," I tell Rhen, only for him to wink at me. My brows furrow, knowing Thane will see his strange gesture. I fiddle with my fingers under the table, wondering what’s happening.
They all start to eat and resume chatting.
Thane hardly speaks. He just sits at the other end of the table, observing his mates.
I push the food around my plate, my appetite disappearing as I wait for the other shoe to drop, for his rage to be unleashed.
The man is impenetrable. He’s not usually able to hide his anger.
Now, however, he just sits, staring at everyone while eating and listening, but not showing much interest.
His quiet, indifferent expression only makes me more nervous.
The others are acting as if this is ordinary behavior for him.
He isn't even using his aura and I still want to run.
I find this version of him disconcerting because I don't know what to expect next.
I expected his rage when I came upstairs. The silence is eerie and cold.
Leon goes to get a bottle of wine, pouring everyone a glass before sitting back down.
I can't remember the last time I ate at an actual dinner table, maybe before my parents died.
At the sanctuary, we lined up for our trays and took them back to our rooms, setting them outside our doors when we finished. Do they eat like this every night?
After they all finish eating, they remain at the table. I wonder how long they’ll stay here. My ass is going numb, and one foot is asleep, yet still, they sit. My food is cold when finally, Thane speaks, and silence befalls the entire room.
"You'll remain here. You can have the Den and can carpool with us to work daily," Thane says before sipping his wine.
"No, my apartment is fine," I lie.
"The apartment you were evicted from?" Thane asks, and I chew on my lip, trying to find a way out of the lie I just told.
"Don't lie to me. I detest liars. I know you're homeless, Zara," Thane says, setting his wineglass down. He looks at my plate before looking up at me. "Eat."
"I'm not hungry, I…"
Raidon clears his throat loudly, and I glance at him, only for him to nod at my plate in some silent message I can't understand. Looking at Rhen, he appears to do the same.
"If you give me my handbag, I can just go, and I’ll see you at work." I rise from my seat, but the look Thane gives me makes me drop back down. He presses his lips in a line.
"No one leaves the table until the last person is finished eating.
So eat," he commands. I look around the table to see if he’s joking.
By the looks on their faces, this is the law in his household.
My hands tremble as I pick up the fork, the metal rattling against the plate as I try to scoop up some rice.
I feel like throwing up as they watch me.
Once I put the forkful in my mouth, Raidon's and Rhen's shoulders relax, and they turn their attention back to Thane. So do I, and I see him reach to grab something off the floor. I nearly drop my fork when he sets the bag I left in the storage room on the table in front of him.
"Now, as I was saying, Zara, you will remain here. It is not a question, or a request," Thane states.