Chapter Six
The sharp raps on the door jolted me awake. My body moved before my brain caught up, leaping from the bed with claws bared. My eyes darted around the blackened room, hackles raised as I searched for the threat that wasn't there.
It was just a knock.
"Kiera," Talia called from the other side of the door, knocking again.
My claws retracted, shoulders slumped as I let myself take a breath.
The watery, morning light was blocked out by the curtains, leaving the room still shrouded and my body wasn't used to it.
This time of the year, the days stretched into each other, the sun never setting.
But I wasn't at home, I was a wolf in the lion's den.
I pulled open the door as I wiped the sleep from my eyes and Talia didn't hesitate to slip inside away from any potential prying eyes. The lights flicked on, forcing my eyes to adjust once again while Talia didn't bother trying to mask her concern.
"I heard about the Council meeting," she said, her words strong but gentle, like she was waiting for me to lash out or break down.
"They voted we stay." It was sure, matter of fact, the opposite of what I could see she wanted.
I couldn't let go, not here and least of all in front of Talia. She was the only other person here from my pack. I was meant to lead, to protect, not to dump my emotional burdens on her.
"And you're okay with that?" she asked, her lips turned down in a small frown.
"I was sent here to build trust and secure a treaty," I answered with a shrug, ignoring the stab of pain in my chest as the memories of the previous night washed over me. "That's what I'm going to do."
The frustration was plain on Talia's face, her brows drawn together and her lips pressed in a thin line.
She still managed to look so elegantly pretty, even without the calm visage of our people.
I was almost jealous. I hated how my face contorted with emotion, the lines that marred my face and the weak quiver of my lip when I held back tears.
"Have you told the Elders about what happened?" she asked even though she already knew the answer. "Have you told your parents?"
I could feel the icy chill start to radiate, the tumultuous storm that was brewing in my chest.
"Have you?" I challenged, the dominance seeping into my voice without my consent. Talia's eyes dipped out of instinct and I cursed myself for acting out of fear, for rising to the perception of a threat.
"No." Her words were tight, the strain obvious as she schooled her face back to the plain calm.
I wanted to apologise, to explain the fear of my parents hearing the news and how their hearts would break for me.
Their instincts would kick in, their drive to protect their young, and they would come down to the Council to make sure I was okay.
They would coddle and soothe until they knew I was okay, their masks slipping just enough to give me comfort as they buried their anger, their sadness, the betrayal deep down.
Then the lectures would begin.
I would either be sent home in shame, unable to fulfill the task given, unable to prove myself as a worthy leader. Or, I would be forced to stay as their shadow and learn from my mistakes as they took over negotiations and I lost any hope of respect from the Council.
"Good," I said instead with a single, decisive nod. "Thank you."
"I'm here to support you, Kiera, not undermine you," Talia said, her warm eyes returning to mine.
"And I'm grateful you're here with me, Talia.
If you choose to stay." I could feel the pinch between my eyebrows, the subtle curve of my lips, the hint of sadness in my eyes as the emotions leaked through the cracks in my walls.
"Things have gotten infinitely more complicated and I understand if you would prefer to be assigned elsewhere. "
She stepped towards me, dipping her head to brush her nose against my cheek. The sisterly affection soothed the ache in my shoulders and I turned my head to return the gesture.
"I've got your back, Kiera," she assured me, giving me a gentle smile as she moved away again. "Now you've got to get ready. These events are never ending."
The schedule was rather packed with different delegate events interspersed with meetings.
Generally, the Council met twice a year around each solstice, the events lasting an entire month.
Hardly anyone ever stayed for the entire thing with most Alphas prioritising different meetings and often sending Betas in their place, depending on how far their pack was situated.
Given the situation, I was stuck here for the entire month of festivities without reprieve.
As we walked to the dining room for brunch, I dreaded having an entire month of meals and meetings and balls, each one more tedious than the last. Thankfully, the room was much calmer than the previous night.
Tables were only half full with people taking the opportunity to move around to mingle in between trips to the extensive buffet.
I noticed some familiar faces in the crowd, Alphas from the Council meetings, some others I'd spoken with before the night was turned upside down.
I was still in no mood to make small talk.
Talia followed me to the buffet as I allowed myself to indulge in the mountains of food they had available, filling my plate before we moved to find a mostly empty table.
It would have been relaxing if we weren't interrupted on our mission to the secluded corner.
"Oh Kiera, darling, it's so great to see you here," the sickly sweet voice called out. My foot hesitated to stop, desperate to plead ignorance and continue but I knew I couldn't. So I turned, my face the picture of cool politeness in the face of her disgustingly sympathetic smile.
Her honeyed hair was curled in loose, bouncy waves, her makeup complimenting the cute warmth of her face. She was all gentle waves and adorable curves wrapped up in a delicate frame.
I hated her.
"Lyra," I greeted with a polite nod towards her and the rest of her chittering table.
Her table was mostly full, a mix of Alphas I recognised and other wolves from their packs that I didn't. None had made an impression on me in the meetings the day before but I knew from my studying that they were connected to some of the larger packs in the south.
"I know this must all be so overwhelming for you. Here, in a new place, surrounded by people you don't know. I'd be lost without support too," Lyra said, her soft pout somehow managing to not look condescending despite how much I wanted to take it that way.
"I'm used to challenging conditions," I answered, keeping the ice away even as I felt the subtle shift of Talia bristling next to me.
"Oh that's good," she said, placing her hand over her heart as though she was relieved on my behalf. "I know it can be a bit...complex navigating things around here when you're new so if you need anything, I'm happy to help out."
A subtle breeze tickled the back of my neck and my eyes flicked to Talia. Her composure was sure but I could see the subtle cracks. I looked towards the corner and she gave a minute nod before taking her leave from the conversation.
Lyra's eyes followed Talia for a moment before her eyes returned to me and her smile widened.
"And of course I'll make sure I put in a good word for you with Dax," she added, her head tilting to the side. "He holds a lot of sway with the Council given his pack."
My wolf was clawing at the surface at the nerve this she-wolf had to speak of my mate with such familiarity. The jealousy burned the back of my throat, bile swirling in my stomach. Those fiery darts pricked my heart, the memories swirling, threatening to break through the careful calm I maintained.
"And we all know how you sway him, right Lyra?" a male voice piped up from behind me.
Lyra jumped, eyes wide as they flew to the man who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Her saccharine smile froze as the recognition flashed with razors before smoothing out.
"Lucien," she said, batting her eyes sweetly. "I didn't realise you were invited."
He lounged in the chair a foot behind me, legs stretched out with one arm strewn on the table and the other swirling a half empty glass.
His thick, jet black hair was kept in long, messy waves and shaved into a fade on one side.
He looked carved of marble with harsh angles that gave him a dangerous beauty.
If the palour of his skin rivalling mine didn't give him away, the ruby glint of his eyes and the deep maroon of his glass certainly did.
"I wasn't," he quipped back, his fangs flashing through his charming smirk. "But that's never stopped me before."
Lyra opened her mouth to retort but cut herself off when Lucien stood, holding a hand out to me instead. The suspicion had my movements tentative but I forced the composure to stay set as I went to shake his hand.
I shouldn't have been surprised when he raised my hand and dipped his head. His lips were a welcome cool against the backs of my fingers, his eyes never leaving mine as they filled with a childish glee at my stillness.
"Lucien Ashcroft," he greeted, his movements slow as he lowered my hand and finally released it. "Of the Eastern Covens. And you must be the infamous white wolf who's caused such a stir among the Council. I must say, I'm impressed. It took me years to burrow so deep under their skin."
I stayed quiet, watching for a couple of moments while his eyes searched mine, each of us battling for the other to break first.
"Kiera Brione, Northern Circle." My voice was cool and calm and the lack of reaction seemed to delight him.
"A beautiful name, how fitting," Lucien charmed, his eyes deepening to a burgundy as gave me a devilish smirk, his attempts to rattle me painfully obvious.
"Don't let this one bother you, by the way," he said, tossing the words like they were old news. "Old money is always afraid of new players."
"Offering help is hardly a power play, Lucien," Lyra chimed in and I was honestly impressed at her attempt to hide the disdain behind her sweetness.
"And maybe one day you'll be convincing enough to make me believe you," he sang back, revelling in how she struggled to maintain the kind facade while he poked and prodded.
"Anyway, beautiful," he said, turning his attention back to me. "I can't offer you help, just my admiration at how fascinating you're making this dreadfully boring affair."
The door slammed, pulling the room's attention towards the figure that had just stormed out.
"See?" Lucien raised an eyebrow as he took a long draught of blood. "Fascinating."
There was something about him that I couldn't place my finger on, a kind of honest slyness that you couldn't quite trust but didn't need to avoid. The tension simmered but I was too tired to play with their little games.
"If you'll excuse me," I said, giving a nod towards the Alphas and Lucien before starting to walk away.
I had to tune out the whispers that erupted from the table once I left and resisted the urge to fall into the chair next to Talia. I gave a slow blink to her silence, grateful for the moment of peace she gave as I tucked into my now cold food.
As much as I despised cold food, my stomach was twisting too much with hunger for me to care.
I was only halfway through when a faint scream caught my ears. I stood as a few others cocked their head at the distant noise.
That wasn't a sound to hesitate at.
Talia called my name as she took off behind me, flying through the halls and skidding around corners as I shed as many layers as I dared without pausing. As soon as I pushed the doors open, I leapt into a shift, my paws pushing me forward as they touched the ground.
I could feel Kiera behind me, hear the soft padding of her paws as she followed me towards the scream when it ripped through the forest. It was high, young. I pushed faster.
She was a sprite of a girl, curled into a ball as she cowered away from the three wolves circling her.
My growl snapped their attention away from her, their putrid yellow eyes and dripping teeth snarling as I sized them up. I huffed, my head tilting as Talia burst into the clearing and immediately picked up on my signals and moved counter clockwise to the group to cover me.
Icy puffs of air blew from my nose, teeth bared in warning and tail high as I poured dominance into the growl. A couple slinked back, ears laying flat as they crouched lower. But one growled right back.
I pounced, teeth finding their mark as I took a chunk of its ear. He reared onto his hind legs, our claws ripping and tearing as we battled to fall first.
I could feel the slash to my side but it didn't stop me as our teeth clashed and then my paw found his eye. He let out a pained, whined growl as he fell and I followed. He was knocked onto his back, my teeth clamping around his neck when I felt a tear against my back.
My jaw tightened, head snapping to the side as the blood poured from the gaping hole in his neck.
Another slash had me turning, fainting and dodging from the flurry of claws as my sights set on the next mangy rogue.
We circled, trading nips and paws until a howl echoed in the clearing and five more rogues crept from the shadows.
I could see Talia from the corner of my eye, her hackles raised as she barked at the dishwater grey wolf she faced.
With just the two of us, we had no chance against the nine of them but I would go down fighting.
I pounced again, catching my opponent by surprise and they stumbled, losing their balance and couldn't find it before I was on top of them, teeth ripping and tearing as the new wolves advanced.
My nose twitched with the low growl as I positioned myself in front of the girl too young to shift and escape.
I snapped, warning the prowling wolves back as they began to circle. My eyes followed, my heart slow as I watched for the right opening.
A howl drew their attention and for just a moment, the rich sound sung to my wolf enough that I nearly missed the chink in their armour.
I wasn't going to let him distract me again.
Their heads swung around a moment too late - I was already in the air.
A little bit more of Lyra and the introduction of Lucien. Honestly, I love him I can't wait to write more scenes with him.
What's your impression of Lyra? Do we trust her sweetness or is Kiera just bitter and suspicious because she's with Dax?