Everyone, as in everyone present in the packhouse, stared at Annabelle. Everyone except for Oliver who said, "I know and that is none of anyone's business."
"What?" Alexander stared at him with his mouth open.
"I said," Oliver hissed. "I know. Annabelle and I talked about it and it's in the past. What the fuck do you want to do?"
"I'm trying to protect you!" Alexander wanted to yell at the shorter boy, to shake him and make him understand what he was too naïve to understand but he didn't.
"For fuck's sake, Alexander!" Oliver snarled. "If you really care that much then stop tormenting me." And then he stormed off.
"Drama queen." Tilda shook her head and the people in the hall took it as a sign to resume whatever they were doing.
Annabelle turned to Tilda with her eyes wide open in shock. "You knew about this?"
"Oliver told me the same day your mother came to us." Tilda shrugged.
"You never even mentioned it…" Annabelle trailed off. She couldn't believe Tilda shrugged off the topic like it was nothing important. She was partly glad but she didn't want Tilda to think differently of her.
"Mistakes." Tilda waved her hand and they both started to walk toward the pack meeting where an argument must be happening there. "And even if it wasn't a mistake, what does it have to do with you?"
"What do you mean?" Annabelle couldn't help but want to bear the blame. It was the way it always was in her old pack and bad habits like this were hard to get over.
"Even if it wasn't a mistake," Tilda stopped to be able to help Annabelle's gaze. She wanted her to understand the depth of truth in her words. "I wouldn't be blaming you for something your parents did."
Annabelle searched her eyes for something and apparently, she found it because she was quick to unexpectedly hug Tilda and said, "Thank you."
Tilda was a little bit shocked at the display of affection but she didn't mind it. "There is nothing to thank me for."
They both stepped back a little with their cheeks growing warmer than usual. That being said, Annabelle's face felt like it was on fire. Therefore, she hid her face between her blonde hair and they started walking again in comfortable silence.
Tilda stopped Annabelle before they could enter the meeting room. "Let's eavesdrop a little." She smirked and Annabelle giggled quietly.
They both checked their surrounding for people and made sure that no one was in the hallway. Annabelle and Tilda pressed their ears on the door.
"Hmm… weird," Tilda muttered. "They sound like they're having a civilized conversation."
"Is it that weird?" Annabelle whispered. "I mean… the two can have a conversation without tearing each other apart, right?" She was aiming at confidence but still, her voice was uncertain.
"Oh, trust me, pigs will fly first before Alex and Oliver talk to each other normally." Tilda grinned. "I wonder how are they going to make this mate thing work."
"They're mates?" Annabelle whispered with her eyes wide. Tilda couldn't help but think about how cute she looked with her long hair cupping her face and her sparkling blue eyes shining even without sunlight.
"Mhmm." Tilda nodded. "They'll figure it out though. That's how mates are supposed to work."
Annabelle smiled at her. She had one of those smiles that brightened her whole face. The type that took someone's whole face to change for doing it. And Tilda loved it.
"Should we enter?" Annabelle said when the conversation that was going on in the meeting room turned to the pack's business instead of simple greetings between the pack's elders and high-ranked wolves.
Tilda took Annabelle's hand before entering the room for two reasons: One, for others―apparently Alexander too― to know that she is serious about her mate. And two, because she wanted to.
The meeting room went quiet as soon as Tilda entered. Thank God. At least they still respect me.
Part of Tilda kept nagging her up until now that maybe the pack members won't be as respectful as they used to be without Annabelle here. And that part of her is now guilty about why she even thought that in that first place? The thought is capable of being hurtful to both her pack members and Annabelle.
"Alpha Grey." Oliver acknowledged in the professional way that was meant to be in the meeting room. And then, "Annabelle." Tilda forgot that Annabelle is still not officially part of her pack.
Tilda nodded and went to sit at her seat beside Oliver who was sitting beside Paria and Annabelle sit beside Tilda and Alexander.
"I'll give the daily report," Paria said. Tilda didn't have to listen. She has told her the reports earlier in case Tilda wanted to mind-link her mate and introduce the others.
That being said, Annabelle was shocked when she heard Tilda's voice in her mind, Tilda being the Alpha. Do you want me to tell you the names just in case?
Yes, thank you. Annabelle finally took a breath. She didn't want to tell this to Tilda but she was afraid of being an embarrassment.
You see the one sitting next to Oliver? Tilda mind-linked. That's Paria, my Gamma. She and Oliver are both my childhood friends. Then next to her is Cetia, the eldest pack elder. She has been around ever since my great-grandmother.
She looks young! Annabelle had to stop herself from staring. Like… she looks freaking twenty. Maybe a year or two older!
She's… special. Tilda was hesitant to talk to Annabelle about Cetia's gift and even though she wanted her to know, she couldn't risk anything right now with the Royal pack at her tail. She had to be careful, even with Annabelle.
I think I get it. Annabelle answered and once again, Tilda thanked her in her heart for not pushing the subject. She liked Annabelle's calculating side. I bet the other two are siblings.
They are. Tilda nodded before realizing that she shouldn't but apparently, everyone else was nodding to whatever Paria had said. That's Judy and Jordan, They're our best healers. Twins.
I think she was the one who took care of me.
She was. Tilda confirmed.
Then there's Bram, he's the mate of Hailey, who's sitting next to him. Bram is the head warrior and Hailey is the mind behind Bram's plans.
And that? Annabelle's eyes briefly passed a woman in her late twenties with board shoulders and pixie cut hair.
She's Chae-Won. Tilda said her name proudly. Not the head warrior but the best warrior that this pack has ever seen.
Before Annabelle could say anything else, Cetia's voice interrupted them and finally announced the main topic of today's meeting.
"About the Royal pack…"