KEANA
I was startled out of sleep by a faint knock. With my body still groggy from the last of a deep sleep, I stretched and grudgingly walked to the door.
Elena was standing there, her body as stiff as ever. "Miss, good morning. The Alpha demands your presence"
Any remaining drowsiness was washed away by her words. "What?" Still caught off guard, I managed.
"For breakfast," Elena said again, her voice devoid of any emotion.
The words replayed in my head as she left. Having breakfast with the Alpha? The same man who had barely shown me any respect and had treated me with indifference? Why now? Why was he asking me to his table after all this time?
My wolf, Rora, was stirring inside of me, her tail waving with delight. Her excitement was adorable,but I could not help but be careful. Even though I was moved by Rora's happiness, I dared not let my guard down because his intentions were as unpredictable as ever.
I hurried into my bedroom with a sense of purpose. I brushed my hair and had a fast shower before putting on a simple satin dress that was both glamorous enough to appear respectable and loose enough to walk in. After taking a deep breath to prepare myself, I left the room and walked towards the dining hall.
The aroma of freshly baked bread and roasted meat clouded the air as I made my way to the dining hall, making my stomach churn. The aroma was alluring, but there was also an uncomfortable feeling of unease I felt. My heart beat increased as I approached, knowing that this meal would be anything but normal.
As soon as I entered the dining hall, I noticed something unexpected. An elderly woman sat beside Alpha Raven, her hand placed softly on his shoulder as she gawked at him with a doting look that seemed totally out of place in this world of ruthless wolves and raw authority. With softness in her eyes, she fussed over him as if he were a kid. That felt unreal. Raven of all people, receiving affection like that.
Her eyes suddenly found mine. She got to her feet with a big smile on her face, her eyes sparkling.
"Is this the Luna, your mate?" she inquired, her tone unexpectedly cheerful, I saw Raven nod subtly from the corner of my eye, his countenance hard as always.
A moment later, the woman came across the room, swooning over me. "Oh, you are so beautiful. Her hands were flying over me as though she was not sure of where to hold first. "And those hips, perfect for carrying strong pups!" she cried. As I stood there, I was completely confused but yet a little enchanted by her warmth.
Then, now aware that she had not given a good introduction, she stepped back,her smiling growing wider "I'm Shelley, Raven's Nana"
I almost forgot where I was for a moment. Raven was watching the exchange with a stony look, wearing his usual mask of indifference, but there was a glimmer of something in his eyes that I could not identify. Nana? I didn't think he would have a grandmother, at least not one as real as Shelley's.
I was uneasy about the idea. Raven was a stern Alpha with a reputation for cruelty, but he had a person like Shelley in his life who was charming and human.
"Come, sit, sit!" Shelley called at me to join them, touching the chair next to her.
The tension was forgotten by Shelley's friendliness, and I could not help but smile as she related the history of the pack,customs, and Raven's childhood experience. She was the kind of person who could make anyone feel comfortable. For a moment it was easy to forget the icy glares and stony look shot out of the way by Raven and just enjoy some simple peace of her company.
"So my dear, will you be keeping me company around the house, or are you planning to be stuck to your mate's hip in your room?" she asked, turning to face me with a playful glint in her eye.
As the heat I felt,flamed up my cheeks, I nearly choked on the water I was gulping. I was totally not prepared for her question, and I spotted Raven giving me a sharp look out of the corner of my eye, which was a silent order to comply.
If Raven is so eager to please this woman, even if it means lying, it must be because she is so important to him.
I forced myself to smile a little while clearing my throat. I tried not to look at Raven and tried to maintain a composed look as I said, "I would be happy to keep you company, Nana." But I do have a lot of questions. How long was she going to stay? Was she aware that I wasn't really that close to her grandson?
Not totally informed of the reality, she smiled at me, obviously happy with my reaction. Most importantly based on her question it appears that she was not aware that Raven and I did not even share a room. I couldn't help but wonder if she just assumed that a Luna would be by her Alpha's side out of habit, or what he might have informed her. In any case, her happiness was contagious, and I had a twinge of guilt at the lies i told her, even if it was just for her sake.
She was led away afterwards by a pack member, to her room to rest from the long journey she had returned from.
Raven and I were the only ones left in the room , immediately the door shut, he turned to me with a silent plea clear in his eyes but his words didn't hold any vulnerability at all.
"Pack your things and move into my room today" he said and then focused back on his meal but I couldn't keep quiet, especially not now.
"Why?"
"Do not question me, just do as I say"