Chapter 126

Olivia

“Why aren’t you with the other guests?”

Colin’s looming presence towered over me, his cold gray eyes piercing through my soul. I felt almost sickened by the expression on his face.

“I was helping in the kitchen,” I replied, somehow managing to find the courage to speak despite the strange sense of fear in my gut.

“Helping? In the kitchen?” Colin’s words came out along with a wry, condescending chuckle. “Olivia, if I had known you wanted to get your hands dirty so badly, I would have hired you to scrub my floors.”

Colin’s words cut deep. But before I could find the right answer, Nathan's familiar presence was suddenly by my side. I hardly had a second to register his arrival before his lips lightly brushed my cheek. The unexpected gesture made me blush a deep crimson.

“Hey, dad,” he said. “What were you two discussing?” Nathan’s voice was calm, but there was an undeniable undercurrent of tension.

I wondered what he and Jenifer discussed in the parlor; whatever it was seemed to strike him, because Nathan was now standing more closely and holding me more tightly than before. The feeling was a pleasant combination of euphoria and comfort.

Colin tilted his head slightly, his smirk never wavering. “Just admiring the decor,” he said with a sneer. “And talking about future employment opportunities.”

“Hmm,” Nathan hummed noncommittally, glancing around as if searching for someone. “What sort of opportunities?

“Nothing of importance,” Colin replied, his attention now firmly on a wine glass he was swirling.

Nathan’s brows furrowed, a shadow of concern crossing his features. “By the way, dad: where is mom’s portrait? The one that was above the mantelpiece in the parlor?”

Colin simply shrugged. “It’s in the hallway now. Why?”

Nathan shook his head, his grip tightening around my waist. “No reason.”

Without another word, Colin brushed past us, clearly perturbed by Nathan’s rescue. I let out a deep sigh of relief, a breath that I didn’t know I was holding.

“Olivia?” Nathan’s voice pulled me back to the present. “Are you alright?”

“Just... lost in thought,” I admitted. “Your mom’s portrait? Where is she, by the way?”

Nathan frowned slightly. “I'm not sure,” he said. “I think she’s away on family matters. Although… My mom’s portrait…” Nathan’s voice faltered. He quickly shook his head, clearly deciding something internally. “Nevermind.”

I felt confused, but decided not to press on about it. Not now, at least. My head was still reeling from what I had learned about Jenifer in the kitchen.

There was a beat of silence before I finally decided to voice my earlier concern. “Nathan, about Jen—”

But before I could continue, the melodious ring of the dinner bell interrupted me. Servants streamed into the room, carrying trays laden with sumptuous dishes, the aroma immediately filling the space.

As the guests began to take their seats, Nathan guided me to my designated spot beside him. I couldn’t help but notice Jenifer's curious glance as we settled down. The chatter around the table started as a murmur, growing in volume as wine glasses were filled and the first course was served.

Dinner progressed smoothly for a while. I tried to engage in light conversations with guests sitting nearby. The intricate patterns on the china, the soft clinking of silverware against plates, and the subdued chatter all blended into a harmonious symphony.

Conversations about politics, economics, and philosophy ensued. Enough guests had arrived now that I suddenly felt far less exposed, comforted instead by the feeling of Nathan beside me and the warm food in my belly.

Jenifer’s stolen glances, Colin’s stiff posture, and Maria’s empty seat were a constant reminder of the real state of things, but for now, I was able to focus on more trivial matters; such as the flavor of the chocolate mousse that was served for dessert.

“You’ve expanded our territory considerably over the years, haven’t you, Colin?” Mike, another Alpha, said as he leaned back in his chair and patted his full belly.

Colin smirked, his eyes sharp. “Land is power, as you well know. And opportunities presented themselves. I’d be a fool not to capitalize.”

Just then, another Alpha who I didn’t recognize very well, raised an eyebrow. “I’ve noticed some overlap into areas we previously agreed upon as mine. Particularly the east ridge?”

Colin chuckled, feigning surprise. “Ah, the east ridge. Fertile and rich in resources. There might have been a slight... miscalculation on my part. But surely there’s room for renegotiation?”

For the most part, I ignored these conversations. However, I was a bit intrigued by this topic. It seemed as though Nathan was, too, based on how he leaned forward in his chair and listened eagerly.

“Ah, well,” the other Alpha said, shrugging. “It’s all the same. All part of the pack.” His words almost seemed calculated, rehearsed. His voice sounded tense. He was lying.

Colin smirked again. “Yes, I suppose it is,” he replied. “Gone are the days of our ancestors splitting up their land between the Alphas. I’d like to usher our pack into a new era, one in which the land belongs to one power. Don’t you think it’s more beneficial that way?”

A silence fell over the table. Mike nodded affirmatively alongside Colin, his eyes drooping from the alcohol. The other Alpha said nothing, but I could see how he was gripping his fork with white knuckles.

One power? All of the land owned by one? It never worked like that.

Our pack always had more than one Alpha. Those Alphas each had their own territory, but worked together as a Council. That was what set our pack apart from so many of the others in the beginning. In fact, many packs followed in our suit after discovering that one singular Alpha in charge almost always led to tyranny. Why would Colin want to go back?

It seemed as though Colin was becoming hungry for land and power. That much had been clear to me for some time; maybe I had always suspected it after he evicted my father and me. But these conversations only solidified that suspicion.

Puzzle pieces seemed to be falling onto the table in front of me. Later, I decided that I would have to put them together.

“What do you think, Nathan?” Colin asked then, turning to face us with a discerning glare in his cold eyes. “You are our next Alpha, after all. And perhaps, if everything goes to plan, you’ll become the Supreme Alpha once my time is up.”

Nathan’s face blanched slightly.

“I… I have to disagree,” he said, clearing his throat. “The Council structure works for a reason. Unless I’m misunderstanding what you meant by ‘one power’.”

I felt my stomach churn as I pictured Colin lighting into Nathan over his response. But much to my surprise, Colin simply chuckled.

“Hear that, Mike?” he asked, leaning toward the burly Alpha that sat drunkenly beside him. “Youth… Well, Nathan, you’ll understand when you’re older.”

Before Nathan could respond, the table delved into different topics. Less serious ones. I let out a sigh of relief, instinctively reaching out beneath the table to give Nathan’s hand a reassuring squeeze.

He seemed tense; he had seemed tense since he returned from the parlor with Jenifer, who was now seated across from us, her orb-like eyes staring unblinkingly at me.

But then, as if on cue, Colin decided to drop his proverbial bomb. I found myself yanked out of my deep train of thought and shoved onto the battlefield without warning.

“Olivia,” he began, his voice dripping with feigned sweetness, “I was quite intrigued the other night in the car when you had so many personal questions about Jenifer. Care to share with the rest?”

To be continued......