Dinner for the Alpha

"A lady should be conservative," Theresa remarked, chuckling darkly. She regretted not taking this step earlier, but her fear of her son had held her back. However, at this moment, she felt no need for fear. Ensuring the birth of an heir was her top priority.

"I can't support this idea. If he finds out, he might kill me before I even get pregnant!" The lady began to panic, her hands becoming sweaty with fear. She didn't know much about Alpha Damien, but the rumors surrounding him were far from friendly. She had come here to bear a child, not to meet an untimely demise. She didn't want any part in it.

"Fear not, child. As I said, all you have to do is mate with him. Leave the rest to me!" Theresa declared with a sinister look and handed the small bottle to her handmaiden.

"Ensure it is served directly in his glass. Make a mistake, and you will pay with your life," she threatened the maid, who quickly nodded and hurried off to execute their plan.

"Stay here for a while. A maid will come to get you when the time is right," Theresa ordered before leaving the room without saying anything else.

"The Alpha is here, Lady Theresa!" A maid happily came to inform Theresa. Theresa rushed towards the exit to greet her sons.

"Mum!" Dave called out, reaching out his arms for a hug. However, Theresa brushed him aside and ran to embrace Damien instead.

"How have you been, son? Oh, you look so thin," Damien remained impassive, not bothering to hug her back, knowing she had ulterior motives.

"I didn't go to the front lines of a war, you know," Damien retorted, pushing her aside as he entered the mansion.

Tutting, Dave mockingly remarked, "You didn't want to hug the caring son, and now you are being shunned."

"Oh, my boy, I am sorry. Come here..." Dave interrupted her, holding up a hand to stop her.

"Go after your treasured son. I don't need a hug," he said firmly.

Theresa laughed off his words and waved them away before finally hugging him. "You know why I am doing this. Don't be so dramatic."

Dave chuckled and hugged his mom, unable to resist her warmth.

"Speaking of dramatic, you are quite familiar with the word. Anyway, you have him all to yourself now. We are back permanently," Dave announced the good news to his mother. 

They had spent over five years in another country to establish permanent operations here. Their pack had originally been located in that country, but due to conflicts with other packs who envied their growth, they were forced to move.

It took five years to transfer everything they needed, including constructing new companies. Despite the challenges, it had finally paid off. They no longer needed to travel between countries for extended periods.

Although Damien wouldn't mind traveling whenever necessary, their pack needed their Alpha, so they had to return.

"Let's go inside."

...

"The Alpha is here, Aurora. Is everything ready?" Aurora was in the kitchen with her assistants, making final preparations. Theresa came looking for her as soon as Damien went to freshen up.

"Yes, Lady Theresa. The dining table will be set up immediately," Aurora replied.

"My handmaiden will take care of it. Go and get some rest. You have done well today," Theresa suggested. Aurora wanted to disagree, but she hesitated and eventually nodded, following Theresa's advice. 

Besides, she had her own plans for tonight, so it was a win-win situation. She found it suspicious, though, that Theresa seemed so happy. Could it be because the Alpha was back? Or was she simply being considerate? Either way, it didn't matter to Aurora. She was free to do as she pleased, unaffected by the situation.

"I will take my leave now," Aurora said without further ado, excusing herself and heading towards her room. Along the way, she encountered Scarlet, who was packing her things temporarily due to family reasons.

Aurora would miss her best friend when she left the pack. She had already prepared herself to leave tonight, in secret.

"Will you be okay on your own?" Scarlet paused in her packing and stood in front of Aurora, concerned. Escaping alone might prove difficult given the tight security in the pack.

"Don't worry about me. Your family needs you more than I do. I would write you a letter once I successfully escape," Aurora reassured Scarlet, holding her hands.

"I know you will make it. Just make sure they finish eating dinner before you leave. The pack guards might loosen their security to celebrate the Alpha's return," Scarlet cautioned, worry evident on her face.

She wished she could stay to help Aurora, but unfortunately, Aurora happened to be leaving on the same day Scarlet needed to check up on her family.

"Okay, boss," Aurora said, and they both laughed. After a few more exchanges, they hugged each other, and Scarlet left for her family's house.

At the dining table...

"Finally, we are back as a family, and to my son's arrival..." Theresa raised her glass of wine, making a toast, and everyone clicked their glasses with hers.

"And hopefully, an heir," Dave commented, stealing a quick glance at Damien, who showed no reaction to his words.

Theresa glanced at her handmaiden and sighed in relief when the handmaiden nodded. Her plan was going smoothly. The goddess, Selena seemed to be on her side today.

"Eat well, Damien. You look thin. Pour more wine for him," she instructed the maids around the dining table.

"You can all leave. I don't need cameras watching me eat," Damien sounded annoyed as he ordered the maids to leave. Theresa, who wanted nothing to go wrong, agreed with him. "Leave us." He had already consumed the first wine with the potion in it. It was done.

A few minutes later, Damien left the dining table, leaving Dave and Theresa behind.

"What did you do, Mother?" Dave asked immediately after Damien was out of sight.

"What do you mean? I have no idea what you are talking about," she denied, avoiding eye contact with him.

"This time, I won't defend you. You are on your own."