Chapter 5: Would He Stab Me With a Steak Knife?

Before the wedding could take place, Mordecai and I had to have a formal engagement dinner with his pack present. Another detail Melania either forgot to tell me or didn’t know.

I was pacing in my room at least an hour before the dinner. I still wasn’t used to how large it was. It was definitely bigger than the Mulberry house, and maybe that’s what worried me the most. I felt like I shouldn’t step out too far or go claim more than what I was used to.

All the riches and comfort I could dream of...and I couldn’t even enjoy it.

I sank into the chaise, not couch. Apparently, one is a couch and the other is called a “chaise,” and the only difference between them is that the chaise is like a longer chair you can kick your feet up in. I only learned the name after Wendy called it that.

Which brings me to my problem: I am not a noble. I knew nothing about food etiquette or social decorum or whatever rich shifters do.

I once spent four months of my childhood eating with my very hands because my father gambled away our silverware. It was the middle of winter, so I had to scoop soup into my mouth by cradling my hand. My skin was always blistered and painful after.

Melania trained me to walk, sit, stand and nod like a noble, but she didn’t prepare me to eat like one.

At the tavern where we met, she drank her wine so elegantly. Even the way she ate her dry biscuit, which I scarfed down, was neat and pretty. I’m so unlike her. I can try to mimic her tiny way of eating food, but would I even have the same effect as her?

While part of me knew I shouldn’t, I began thinking about Phoebe’s deal. If I could leave, with a few pieces of jewelry, then maybe—

“You’re not ready?” Wendy barged in and asked with a scowl. After the dress disaster, she didn’t wait for me to allow her inside. She must have thought I would sabotage myself if I was left alone too often.

“I haven’t picked out my dress yet.” It was the truth, and I wasn’t planning on it. Wendy strode right past me and opened my closet door, revealing an assortment of fine clothes in beautiful colors.

“It doesn’t matter what you wear. Just pick something so we can get a move on. I’ll grab some accessories...and a hairbrush.” She frowned at my coppery mess, making me blush. I’m thankful no one commented about the color yet.

While Wendy went to rifle through my accessory boxes, I approached the closet. All the clothes the seamstress made were tailored to fit my body, made for me...but they didn’t quite feel like me.

I felt like I was playing dress up, even when I was putting on a pair of pants to lounge in. They say clothes make the person, but I didn’t feel like a noble wolf just because I wore them.

It made me feel even more like a fraud.

I sighed and started to brush my hand against the dresses. They were mostly yellow and blue with a few other colors mixed in. Two oranges with bright patterns, a smoldering red, lots of pretty pink ones, and...

A green dress?

I touched the fabric and pulled a velvety emerald-green dress off its hook. It had a square neckline, so my chest would be on display, but the feel and color of it were so gorgeous. I smiled. I would have to request more dresses in this color.

After all, green is my favorite color.

“I’m choosing this one,” I said and turned to face Wendy, who was eyeing me strangely. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh? Nothing at all. Just lost in thought.” She was lying. My hearing is far better than all my other senses, so I can pick up lies quite easily. I’m not 100% accurate, but I’m better than most wolves I’d like to think.

“If you say so.” I didn’t mean to sound mocking, especially since she was the one who was going to do my hair. Wendy cut her eyes at me before grabbing the dress from my hands.

“Let’s just get you ready. The Alpha is waiting.”

Only then did I remember the worst part of all this.

xxx

I stood in front of the dining hall doors in my green dress. Wendy paired it off with golden heels, pearl earrings and a pearl necklace that coincidently rested on my chest. I tried my best not to fiddle with it as I waited.

But I was fiddling with it, trying anything I could to expel the nervous energy that was building in my stomach.

The Alpha was right through those doors.

Mordecai Argentine was going to see me.

No amount of training prepared me for this, and I was lucky I was able to down a drink of wine before Wendy pushed me out of my room. The alcohol dulled me only slightly but hopefully it was enough.

“Are you ready?” Wendy asked. She was in front of me. It was her job to open the door and allow me inside to meet him.

“I have to be.” Wendy flinched slightly, but what I said was the truth. Perhaps she didn’t expect me say it like that? She straightened her own back before laying a hand on the knob and opening the door. A bright golden light hit my face, but I was already looking down, as Melania had taught me to.

“The Luna-to-be has arrived!” Wendy announced into the room.

All conversation stopped as I walked into the room. Melania taught me to keep my eyes towards the ground when I’m making a grand entrance, especially in front of Mordecai. It was ideal to show him subservience and modesty.

Every step I took was leading me deeper in the room, but I was following Wendy’s skirt. She was leading me to him. I almost touched the necklace again but restrained myself.

And then I felt it.

An ominous lurch in my stomach. A buzzing in my brain.

Wendy stepped out of the way. I could only see what shoes he wore. They were dull black dress shoes underneath black slacks, nothing alarming, but it was him. Not just Mordecai Argentine but the man from the garden. My skin felt it. My senses knew it. My throat was so dry I knew swallowing would be impossible.

I’m lucky my dress hid my legs because they were shivering again.

“Melania St. Belmont,” a voice called above me. It was rough and deep and penetrated my very skull with its low pitch. I blinked, fear outweighing my attraction by a landslide, and finally looked up...

Only to have the attraction win over the fear yet again.

His hair was a midnight black, styled into a tousled fashion mullet, long enough to cover his neck. His lips were plush but dry, which sent additional shivers down my legs. But the best part were his eyes, under full but maintained eyebrows.

They were emerald green. A sparkling emerald green.

Setting his tan jaw in place, Mordecai offered me his hand. It was calloused and large, but I was more than eager to put my hand in his palm. His fingers enclosed mine with a firmness that made me stand a little taller...and grow a little hotter.

“I welcome Melania St. Belmont into my pack.” Oh, right. I just remembered we were surrounded by many of his Inner pack members, including his Beta and his family. I smiled to the crowd of members clapping. Their eyes watched me intently but still they smiled back.

“Let us eat,” Mordecai commanded, and everyone sat down at their seats.

Mordecai led me to the head table, giving me a captivating view of his back. I could see every muscle working underneath his crimson dress shirt, and I willed myself to not look lower and take in the rest of his...assets.

Mordecai pulled out my chair, causing my heart to flip, and I sat down. He sat to my right. My hearing could pick up the way the chair groaned underneath his weight.

Oh, f*ck…

No! Get a hold yourself, Cecil! It’s bad enough to be attracted to powerful shifters, but why must this man make me so delusional? I’d never been so attracted to someone before. Should I consider it a blessing it’s the man I had to be married to?

“...three days.”

“Huh?” I looked up from my plate, which was filled with a steak. The steak was paired with a maroon sauce and mashed potatoes. I didn’t know steak was eaten with sauce. Well, I hadn’t had steak in...never.

My eyes met Mordecai’s, which were still mesmerizing despite being narrowed ever so slightly.

“I said our wedding will be in three days,” he repeated and went to work cutting his steak. My mind felt like it was hit by a brick.

“Is it supposed to be so soon?” I asked. Mordecai was mid-bite, giving me a view of his sharp white teeth that had me salivating for something other than food.

He placed his fork down before saying, “It will be a week since you’ve been here. According to tradition, the Luna must marry the Alpha after one week.” I didn’t know that, but it seemed like something “Melania” should know.

“Oh, yes, of course. It’s best we don’t stray from tradition,” I said and fiddled with my pearls. Everyone was talking happily while still eating with noble etiquette, I assumed. “So...this is it?”

“What?” I thought I heard an edge in his voice and looked up to see him mid-bite once again. Now I just feel sorry for him.

“Oh, sorry. I mean...this is it.” I gave a small gesture to the hall full of people. “This is the pack I will be Luna of?”

*Crack!*

It was so subtle. So small only a few with good hearing would pick it up over the music they began to play and joyous festivity.

I looked down at the steak knife in Mordecai’s hand. The wooden handle was cracked through. He placed it calmly down on the table, revealing he shattered the wood *and* steel of the knife, before gesturing to a maid for a new one.

He finally placed the piece of steak in his mouth and chewed in silence, but his silence only added to the growing fear settling back into my own stomach. My legs began to shake again as I finally remembered who I was talking to.

The Alpha of Nox, after he finished chewing, said in a deceivingly calm tone, “Yes. This is the pack, and you will be my Luna.”

I suddenly lost my appetite.