A God Amongst Wolves

29

Word Count: 2087

~Alvera

Venn paces back and for in front of me, his brows drawn together.

I can feel the tension leaking from him. Were he not so tall and intimidating I may have considered stepping into his path before he wears footsteps into the carpet, but that idea has long passed.

He looks so beautiful tonight. His black jacket pulls taut around his shoulders and arms, accenting the generous muscle beneath. It's a shame his hair is so messy for the rest of him is so well put together. Unfortunately he can't keep his hand from sweeping through the dark locks incessantly.

"This is a terrible idea," he mutters, rubbing his jaw.

I lounge back in a sitting room chair as I watch him, mindlessly picking at my nails. "Well, this is your consequence for not telling me about your brother."

"I did."

"Not enough...I had to learn through him," I mumble.

Venn started off angry when I brought Able up to him a couple days ago. He rambled on about how Able approaching me was dangerous, and how he's contemplating killing him.

I didn't mind that he dismissed the idea of a dinner party until I heard from Belle that she intends to join us. Venn finally relented after I pestered him for hours, reminding him that I have very little now thanks to his Moon Goddess, and how I am desperate to repair my relationship with my sister.

Now we wait for them to arrive, and Venn couldn't be more displeased.

"I told you he shouldn't be in our lives," he growls. "He's more dangerous than you think."

"A simple dinner won't hurt," I sigh. "I'm only agreeing to this because his presence has encouraged Belle to come, and I want to start smoothing over all the problems in our relationship."

Whether Belle's attendance is spurred on by Able's presence or Venn's, I don't know, but I'll soon find out. I know she's harboured feelings for Venn before...

"You can't trust Able, Alvera. Don't listen to a word he says," he instruct tersely.

I lean forward, linking my fingers together. "Why? Do you anticipate him saying something bad?"

His moonlit eyes turn cold. "You have no idea..."

"We'll just have to see how this goes, won't we?" I stand, adjusting my blouse. "With you here, nothing bad will happen."

"Mmm." He doesn't look convinced, rubbing his jaw as he stares out the window.

"I'm also hoping that since he apparently knows my sister, he may know why she went missing, and has returned practically emaciated," I muse distractedly.

"I guess—"

One of Venn's pack members who lives here sweeps into the room suddenly, drawing our attention.

"Your guests have arrived, Alpha, and dinner is read to be served," he announces.

Venn nods. "We'll direct them to the dining room. Thank you."

My heartbeat pulses in my neck as my nerves ratchet up. So much could go wrong tonight. Hopefully everyone will at least try to be civil, although I don't suspect I'm going to get my wish.

"Let's do this," I say determinedly, giving Venn one last look before we pass through the hallway and down to the foyer.

I'll never get over how different it looks in here now. All the debris and mess has vanished, a new life breathed into the intricate paintings and once frayed tapestries.