Clinking forks against dinner plates started to drive me crazy. Sean had run out of pack news and Diana failed to keep a conversation with the alpha going. He seemed annoyed for some reason but it could have just been his persona.
"What do you do, Lilly?" Arthur asked me suddenly.
So suddenly I dropped my silverware in surprise.
"Nothing," I said honestly.
"Lilly studied history," Sean responded noting my shocked expression.
I cleared my throat and wiped my mouth with the corner of my napkin.
"I minored in psychology," I added.
Caleb snorted in laughter. "I said she should have majored in that, lord knows we need a shrink in this family." His ombré hair was pulled back in a bun and his sharp angular face was ruddy from over indulgence.
Sean grew wide eyed and I felt Diana tense. But I could see Caleb's comment made the alpha loosen up.
LCalm down, da," Caleb called down the table to Sean. "Four years I've known this brute, I promise that was not the worst he's heard come out my mouth."
Arthur gave a knowing nod. "Far from it."
I looked to Diana, "are you proud of your children?" it was rhetorical but she nodded in response.
"I'm very proud," she slurred. "in fact Lilly made this dinner tonight."
The guests around the table all congratulated me but not Tak or Arthur. The alpha seemed intrigued that I could cook.
"It was nothing I…"
"So," Tak interrupted me loudly and everyone caught their breath. "What is it you want from us?"
I closed my eyes pretending I was not there.
"Tak, eat something," Tally pleaded.
He had been drinking since he heard Arthur was coming to dinner and I knew he was in no state to carry on a conversation.
"You may want to eat," Diana instructed. "It'll make you feel better."
I rolled my eyes, the blind leading the damn blind.
"I don't think we should talk about pack matters," Sean clipped.
I nodded, "Granny always had that rule," I said changing the subject. "No pack talk at the table."
"or singing," Caleb chimed in.
"That one was just for you," Tally ribbed. "But even at Christmas time you were allowed to join in."
He threw a green bean at her but missed. Apparently Diana and Tak were not the only ones drinking.
"Mother was always a stickler for rules," Sean agreed.
"She's gotten worst with age," I said.
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "You mean Lady McTavish?"
I nodded, "She's not really our granny but we've spent a lot of summer's with her and for the past few years I've been her companion," I half lied.
"That has kept you busy I imagine," Arthur smirked.
"I had the honour of dancing with Lady McTavish last year at Christmas, I was worn out afterwards."
I smiled thinking of her. "She's definitely loquacious. You never have to wonder what her opinions are, on things."
"Boudicca was more subtle, " he said and it took me by surprise. So much so I laughed aloud and heard Tally giggle.
"Boudicca of the highlands," Tally remarked.
Apparently our conversation angered Tak. He jumped from the table and ran to the kitchen. Everyone watched him leave but stayed silent. I excused myself from the table and followed him.
I walked into the kitchen to see Tak sulking.
"I hope you're happy," I crossed my arms and stared him down. "You stormed out like a child."
Tak looked perturbed as he stood from the bar stool.
"I can never do anything right for you," he hissed as he slammed his fist into the wall.
He turned to face me with a bloody hand. I rolled my eyes as I got a paper towel. He was still young and let his emotions get the best of him.
He sat at the kitchen island as I held the towel against his knuckles that were slowly starting to heal.
"You have to control your temper," I murmured finding it ironic he was two years older than me.
"I want away from these bastards," he snapped. "There is no reason for them to be here."
I sighed noticing the bleeding had stopped and the wound was basically healed. Kissing his boo boo to make it better, I heard the kitchen door open.
Tak and I both looked to see Arthur standing in judgement at us.
"I see the wall won," Arthur raised an arrogant brow.
I let go of Tak's hand and put the towel in recycling.
"Can I help you, alpha?" I asked as politely as I could.
"Yes," Arthur said simply.
Tak realized that he was not wanted for that conversation.
"I'll be outside," he said as if it were a threat.
Once we were alone Arthur spoke.
"Has your uncle spoken to you?" he was cold in his demeanor. He looked like a Greek statue with a similar personality; I wondered if he were real.
"About?" I asked looking awkwardly at the floor and back up to his chiseled face.
"Our agreement," he said simply.
I shook my head. "I know that you made a treaty with him but I don't know the specifics."
Arthur assessed me before he spoke. For a moment I saw worry flash across his face.
He cleared his throat. "The tribe will provide magical protection to the rest of the packs. In the past they have kept to themselves but it's time for everyone to come together." He sounded as if he was reading from a prompt.
"And what do we get?" I asked guarding myself.
"I will take one of the tribal members as my mate," he explained.
My entire body went numb. Humphrey would not do this to me.
"We are to be mated," he confirmed my fears.
"I'm confused," I whispered. "I am to be one of your wives?" This could not be right.
His brow furrowed. "My only wife," he corrected me.
"Do I get a say in this?" I snapped crossing my arms across my chest.
He shook his head, "no, you are to sign the papers tomorrow."
He turned to walk out the kitchen but my anger got the best of me and I found myself flinging a knife across the room.
Arthur looked to see it jutting out of the wall and he seemed impressed, even though it was inches from his head. The air had been sucked out of the room as I waited for him to fly off the handle.
To my annoyance he seemed calm as ever.
"If you were actually aiming for me, I might be dead now," he murmured turning to face me.
"Usually I leave a situation before I let that happen," I was seething with anger so much so my hand searched for another knife and I had to still it.
He nodded, "very prudent." With that he left the kitchen unfazed.