Chapter 5 Pack

Ophelia

Last night, I was fortunate. Gideon was the only one showing signs of the beast, but that makes what transpired even more disturbing. Was this getting worse? Would I be the next to be hurt by the human side?

In the dawn light, I turn to face him. Over his forehead, curly, dark blonde hair falls. Even in a relaxed state, his features exuded the fierce dominance of an alpha wolf. He had a pointed nose and slightly thicker eyebrows compared to an average man. His mouth is neither too little nor too large, and his jaw is broad. He's lying flat on his back, completely nude. There are a few combat scars on his body. He's a golden giant with a very attractive sleeping appearance.

As I roll out of bed, I feel queasy-this time not from my wounds. The other wolves are most likely still here. Not that I want to deal with guests this morning, but I should run some errands while I'm feeling somewhat well. I steal into the bathroom, close the door, get dressed, and take a shower in a rather calm and comfortable manner.

He gets up from the bed and gives a groggy shake of his head, muttering, "Pheli?"

"Yes, Gideon?" I answer quietly and without feeling.

My tone makes him tense up. "Where are you going?" he asks, looking startled to find me with my hair and makeup done, wearing excellent red and black shirts and dark-washed denim trousers.

With a nonspecific response, "I need to run some errands," I can't let him know that the bathroom's first aid supplies are almost completely depleted.

He responds angrily, "It would be nice of you to spend some time with our pack."

"Perhaps," I said, hesitating. No, goddess. I was first scared by the high-ranking people that ate with Gideon every day in the dining room, but now all I felt was a deep contempt that I would have to keep hidden from them.

Ophelia should, at the very least, eat breakfast. How recently did you have dinner with us?"

Our group. as though I were among them.

"Helena! We have visitors. When I don't answer, he becomes irate and screams, "You have to show up.

"All right," I say.

He stalks by me to the bathroom, giving me a look. I'm not going to wait around for him. I simply take my handbag and get out of the room.

It is not bothering the two anonymous guards at the end of Alpha's hallway to wish me a good morning. I don't even give them a glance. For all I care, they can be used as furniture. It's not as painful as the numerous times I attempted to be kind yet was treated as if I had a communicable illness. None of these wolves are trustworthy. Now that I know better,.

I enter the dining room at a relaxed yet deliberate pace. There are already about twenty pack members present. I recognize the distinction between the wolves from other packs, the petitioners who come to talk with the leader, and the regulars that live at the packhouse with Gideon all the time. The regulars appear shocked and then uncomfortable with my presence. The wolves of the other pack stare curiously, while the petitioners mostly just stare meekly.

I reach for a plate, a muffin, and a banana. When I go out, I'll buy coffee. I take a seat at one of the four chairs at a little table in the corner and look out the window.

A shy girl approaches me with such timidity. She has an apron on, a fresh new omega who has only recently arrived at the packhouse. She has to be sixteen. Omegas start working after dropping out of school at that point. In private, I believe they ought to be allowed to continue until they turn eighteen, just like all other pack members. However, I find it to be a delicate topic. When Gideon discovered me two years ago, I dropped out of school. I was the Luna, and I had no time left for education or a normal life.

She nods and says, "Good morning, Luna," setting a cup of coffee on the table.

"Thank you..."

"Stacey." "Stacey." I give her a short smile, which she promptly reciprocates before running away. I detest wondering if she was forced to be kind to me by another member of the pack. I keep my hands off the coffee, just in case. I've become really paranoid and cynical.

I hear him coming, then the gregarious pleasantries as he walks into the dining area. It was very different from how people responded to my unwanted presence. He approaches me directly and takes a seat next to me. I would have asked him if he was going to eat a year ago. I would have given him half of my own meals two years ago. I ignore him now, much to his evident annoyance.

Someone in the pack brings him food. Of course. After only a minute of silent eating, Lavinia comes in and settles down next to Gideon.

"Alpha, good morning," she chirps.

"Good morning, Lavinia." He refuses to look at her. It must be awkward for him to have both of us here. Still, he looks to her for tenderness. He and I haven't had sex in almost a year, as far as he knows. Well, I can still taste him, except for last night.

What a life it is!

She fakes a smile at me, saying, "Luna, it is so wonderful to see you up and about!"

I give her a blank stare and pause for a long time. Is it really worth pretending to be friends? This woman wants to be my partner and despises me. To be honest, she might already have my mate; nevertheless, this morning, all that is left on her skin is the strong scent of her perfume; there is no trace of Gideon.

Who am I kidding? I should be kind; his rage will be terrible if I'm not. It never stays that way, no matter how I act or behave.

I cryptically reply, "I have been having a good two days," wearing a phony smile like hers. "Thank you for your concern, Lavinia."

Gideon lightly touches my hand with his. I reflexively flex my fingers, barely catching myself before yanking the hand away. In any case, he senses the dismissal and removes his hand from mine.

"Well, we are planning the party for your third anniversary in two months," she replies. "Will you be able to join us today?"

"Are we having another party, Gideon?" I ask him politely. Gideon beat me up at last year's party for 'flirting' with guys I knew in school. As usual. For me, parties always seem to end tragically.

He tightens his hold on his coffee mug. "I know, sweetheart," I remark cynically, "but the Luna ought to be celebrating her own anniversary."

He asks me gently, "Do you want to skip the party to spend time together instead?"

Although very enticing, I know how that will turn out. "I just don't want a party, Gideon," said the Beast. "Gideon's wolf will take over, and if we go somewhere private, I can only imagine what the beast will do." He can't know that I have no plan of being there anyway.

He responds, "Whatever you want, sweetheart." Once more, his fingers glided across mine. There's a glimmer of optimism in his eyes. Males become more alert to sexual signals, even from an undesired partner. I give him a blank stare in return, savoring the fleeting moment of tenderness in his dark chocolate eyes. Eventually, the woman sitting next to him will undoubtedly remind him of my ineffectiveness as a princess, at which point his icy gaze will reappear.

The only two things I have seen in his eyes for months are brown eyes full of disdain and golden eyes full of rage. The thought of something else, anything else, emanating from him toward me makes me want to cry. I glance out the window once more as I turn my back on him to contain my feelings. He is so frustrated that I can feel it when I ignore his silent plea.

"The entire pack is looking forward to the party, Gideon!" Lavinia objects. Pack parties are her favorite thing to do. Usually, Gideon leaves me to fumble through life alone as he spends a lot of time with her and their group of older pals. It would be much better if I could simply spend time with my old friends, but I am aware of the tragic conclusion and do not wish to infuriate my former classmates with the wrath of my golden-eyed Beast.

I turn around just in time to see Gideon lean back and his face close up. "The party can still be held, Lavinia." There's the unfavorable alpha with whom I am sadly bonded.

She smiles at him, her lips too sweet. "Oh, how lovely! Luna, will you be arranging with us today?" She looks up at me without looking directly into my eyes.

"I will see if I have time," I finally say. Yes, exactly, bitch. My coffee might be poisoned, and I want to hurl it in her direction. I carelessly stroke the area of my tummy where the scars are the deepest.

Her blue eyes abruptly become icy as she observes the movement.

I consider, then remember. She thinks I'm pregnant, damn it. Naturally, Gideon is aware that I am not. He believed we hadn't had sexual contact in a year and could almost immediately detect his dog's scent emanating from me. I can already feel my brain spinning from the idea. Should I genuinely become pregnant, what would happen?

It's risky yet important that I take human birth control pills along with wolfsbane. Nothing is impenetrable. What happens if his wolf impregnates me and Gideon doesn't remember? Do I instantly turn into an adultress?

Hey, that means the pack can despise me even more. If that were the case, would Gideon's human side also become violent?

I get up quickly.

"Ophelia? You hardly touched your food."

"Gideon, you finish it," I mumble under my breath. I grab my handbag and head out. Lavinia, happy to see me go, smirks at me as he lets out a resigned sigh. Gideon leans back and picks up my coffee and muffin.

"Not that," I yell, grabbing the lukewarm mug from him. Lavinia gives me a hilarious gape, and Gideon looks perplexed. I say, "I need to go before it gets too late," and I walk out.

I rush out, feeling the gaze on my back. I pour the coffee into a plant in the hallway, oblivious to my bodyguards observing, and set the mug down on the curio desk at the front door.