SIENNA
"I've told you this before, and I'll say it again, Sienna," Alpha Theron said, moving the pen over the paper, not even glancing in my direction. "If you're not going to follow through, don't test me."
I chose not to respond and just nodded, going back to the papers. If I wanted to get out of here without problems, I had to cooperate and keep my mouth shut and my hands busy. That was the best path.
Once I left this pack, I would head to the human world. I wanted to see more of the world and only then would I return to my family's territory. Before that, I'd end up trapped in another marriage. My father wouldn't think twice before finding someone from 'our kind' for me to be joined with. Besides, I only wanted to be around werewolves again when my wolf appeared and stayed. Until then… It was dangerous.
I forced myself to focus on the task at hand and didn't notice the time passing until a knock on the door made me lift my head. Working beside the Alpha wasn't so hard, at least up to that moment. He handled his business and didn't bother me. It was almost like I was alone. Almost. Forgetting his presence was a bit difficult, if not impossible.
"Come in," the Alpha called out, without looking at the door.
A slightly older female poked her head in and, upon seeing me, looked surprised—but not in a bad way. She smiled.
"Alpha, it's time for the meal," she said and looked at me again. "Would you like me to bring food here? For two?"
"No, Alma. We're going to eat with the others. Thank you."
With one last look in my direction and a little knowing smile, she left.
"I'm going… to eat with the others?" I asked. I didn't know anyone besides the ones who assisted me at the hospital, the Alpha, and the Beta.
"Yes, you'll be staying here for a while. Besides, if you plan to walk around on your own, the least you should do is get to know the members of this pack."
He was right. I stood up and started organizing the papers on my desk. I was going to take a step toward the door but waited for the Alpha. One minute, two... three.
"Uh…"
"I'm going." My stomach growled, and he lifted his eyes, letting out a breath and setting the pen down on the desk. "Alright, let's go."
He passed by me, and I just followed him in silence. We walked past a few omegas, and all of them greeted the Alpha, at least with a nod. At least to his people, he seemed to be good. I didn't feel fear radiating from any of them.
Alpha Theron stopped walking when we were near a large archway in the wall, from where I could hear the sound of cutlery.
"Stay close to me, alright?" he said. "I'm going to introduce you as a guest. Don't say anything, don't answer anyone. I'll handle that myself."
He started walking and then stopped again, glancing at me over his shoulder.
"You're not going to question me?"
"I'll trust your judgment," I answered, with a forced smile.
Theron raised one eyebrow but didn't comment and kept walking. I hadn't noticed how hungry I was until someone mentioned 'food'. Now I felt like it was eating me from the inside out.
We reached the entrance to the dining hall, and all the chatter stopped the moment I stepped inside. Another thing I noticed: some members of the pack were already eating, which meant Theron didn't make them wait for him. That explained why he didn't rush when he heard the meal was ready.
I scanned the table and found Corbin. He smiled at me in a friendly way.
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. This is Sienna, a guest of our pack. She'll be staying for a while, helping me in the office." And he didn't explain who I was, exactly. Where I came from. The reason I was here. And judging by the others' reactions—nodding slightly in polite acknowledgment—they didn't seem interested in knowing more than what their Alpha was willing to share.
In half a second, everyone was eating again. Alpha Theron walked to the head of the table, and I followed him. There was a seat to his right, and I looked at him. He nodded, and I sat down. Again, silence. I looked around.
"Eat." The Alpha didn't ask—he ordered—but no one said anything. They just kept eating in silence. What had just happened? I looked at Corbin, and he seemed stunned, glancing between the Alpha and me. "You too, Sienna. Eat. It's going to get cold."
I blinked a few times and realized I was making a fool of myself. I looked at the items on the table. Before I could move, Theron's arm reached across me, and I saw meat being placed on my plate, along with some potato salad.
"What is it?" he asked. "Don't like it? Don't eat meat?" He frowned and seemed ready to take the food off my plate, but I pulled it away from him.
"No! I… thank you!" I said and grabbed my fork. What was he thinking? Serving me! "I-I can serve myself. Thank you. You don't have to worry."
I looked at the Alpha, and he seemed conflicted about something before turning back to his own plate. The atmosphere there was strange, and I wanted to get up, but my stomach growled audibly, and I quickly cut the meat and shoved a piece into my mouth with the fork. How embarrassing!
When we got up after the meal, I followed Theron, but he stopped before entering the hallway that led to his office.
"Alma!" he called, and soon that same woman appeared.
"Take Miss Sienna to her room, please."
"Of course, Alpha! She… where should she stay?" the woman looked a little confused. "And does she have luggage?"
"Take her to the second floor. Pick a well-ventilated room. As for luggage... she has a bag. It's in my office. You can get it later."
The small backpack I brought with me when I left the Nightveil Pack had stayed with me at the hospital and now rested on the floor of the Alpha's office.
"Of course, Alpha," the woman said and looked at me with a warm smile. "Come, dear."
I followed her, and she seemed like she wanted to say something, judging by how many times she looked over her shoulder. She opened the door to a nice room on the second floor—simple, but tidy. I thought he'd put me somewhere humbler, considering I was a "worker" here.
"Thank you!" I said and looked at the bed. It looked soft. I went to the window, and from there I could see the pack grounds and part of the forest.
"Miss… sorry to ask, but what's your relationship with our Alpha?"
I turned and faced Alma.
"I'm a guest. And I work for him."
"Hmm… I see. I didn't mean to be nosy. It's just…" She said nothing for a while.
"It's just what?" I asked.
"Nothing. It's just that he's never brought anyone here before. Excuse me! Welcome!"
And she left quickly, not giving me the chance to say anything else.
A few minutes later, another omega brought my backpack to me, and I found myself with nothing to do. I found a book in one of the drawers of the nightstand—it was about the pack's history.
I got lost in it because it was very interesting. I only put the book aside when I heard a sound at the door.
"Sienna?" It was Theron. I stood up and looked out the window. It was getting dark. I opened the door, and there he was, freshly showered, smelling absolutely amazing. "Get ready. We're going out."