Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

Lilliana

It's not until dusk two days later that Dom returns with his ‘friends'. Roxanne met him at the border to our pack lands and allowed them access, with my uncle vouching for them.

Since he has no actual authority in the pack, he can't even invite anyone from Montrose in following my proclamation; it's a small thing but I draw satisfaction from reminding him of his lack of standing in my pack.

Along with several of our security team, Roxanne escorted them—blindfolded—to Harridan House, where my mates and I were waiting.

Four Pack Montrose members come through the door, their eyes immediately devouring the cavernous entrance. Reaching out with my senses, I can get a vague read on their emotional states, but nothing so concrete as what I draw from my pack. There's a nervous energy, which is to be expected, but nothing that leads me to believe they have evil intentions.

Nothing to tell me they'll be at all helpful, either. Dom insisted we could trust them, and without a better plan, I decided it was worth a shot.

As I scan their appearance, the only thing that strikes me is that they look… normal. Not remotely like henchmen to a supervillain who wear matching black turtlenecks and combat boots. They're all just normal guys, ranging from mid-twenties to mid-forties, if I had to guess. However, they all wear matching expressions of distrust as their eyes settle on me.

Dom steps forward to begin introductions. "Guys, this is Lilliana Harridan, and her prophesied mates Jared, Landon, and Milo." They nod stiffly in my direction. "Alpha, this is Brad, Jeff, Billy, and Matt." Dom lists their names in order of where they stand facing me, with the apparent oldest and youngest in the middle. All of them are fit, but the eldest, Jeff, is significantly muscled, and the youngest, Billy, is rather thin in comparison.

"Thank you for coming," I address them directly. "I assume Dom gave you the basics about why we've requested your help, so let's sit down to a meal and discuss what we can do for each other." I gesture toward the formal dining hall, then turn and walk in that direction with my mates, leaving the others to follow.

There's really no need for us to dine in this massive room—it's simple to add a second table to the breakfast room—but I decided a small show of authority couldn't hurt. We sit on opposite sides of the long table: Montrose with Dom on one side and Roxanne with me and my mates facing them, allowing the security team to claim seats on both ends and make the group feel even larger, and our guests less significant. Jeff is directly opposite me, and I quickly conclude that he's the de facto leader.

Mr. Carson and Mrs. Dowling have arranged an impressive dinner service, and fragrant dishes releasing curls of steam are soon moving around the table. The guests are served first, but even when they've filled their plates, their gazes remain locked on me, their expressions firm as they wait.

I'm not their alpha, but perhaps this is a sign that they're showing me deference, anyway? The only other thing I can conclude is they either have superb manners or suspect I've poisoned the food. Jeff's steely grey eyes watch me select a fork, and once I take the first bite, he picks up his own and the others quickly follow suit.

My heart has been racing since the second they stepped foot in my house, but I do my best to appear relaxed, hoping it will reassure them. Aside from the scrape of silverware on plates and the crackling fireplaces, very little sound travels through the cavernous room.

Finally, I can't take the tension anymore. Noting the hat the youngest is wearing, I ask, "Are you a UT fan, Billy?" I state the question casually and continue eating while I wait for this response.

His eyes immediately dart to Jeff, who nods subtly, and then back to me. "Yes, ma'am. I grew up in Knoxville."

"Do you like it there? Or do you prefer Montrose? I've heard both are very scenic. Quite different in sizes, though."

This time, his answer comes slightly faster. "That's a troublesome question, ma'am. In some ways, they're both home for me."

I flash him an understanding grin. "That makes perfect sense to me. I grew up on the west coast, so I still somehow think of LA as home. But as soon as I came to Smoky Falls, it was also home. I wonder how different it would feel to have always been here."

Billy seems relieved by my reaction and smiles tentatively before turning his attention to his food. Jeff, on the other hand, is still eyeing me like a snake that could strike him at any moment.

"Did you all grow up elsewhere, or were you raised in Monrose?"

The blond man Dom identified as Brad answers first. "I grew up in Charleston. Most of my family is still there."

"Did you like it there? Do you visit often? It's only a few hours from Montrose, I believe?"

"About three, ma'am. And I visit as often as I can. I stay pretty busy with the baby and all."

A family man, then. "That's understandable. And congratulations! Is it a boy or a girl?"

His cheeks turn pink and a genuine smile cracks his stern expression. "A little girl, Olivia Jade. She just turned two months."

"That's a beautiful name. I'm sure you and your wife have your hands full. Is she your first?"

"Yes ma'am. We do, but I wouldn't have it any other way. She's perfect." Brad is now grinning so broadly I wonder if it hurts his cheeks.

"Congratulations again," I smile back. Turning my focus to the other side of their group, I ask, "And Matt, what about you?"

"I have two kids, ma'am, and I was born and raised in Montrose. It's a great town to raise a family," he adds, as if expecting my next question. "Are you looking to move?"

I laugh lightly. "Not at the moment, I'm afraid. But I haven't been able to see much of this area since I arrived. I would love to visit sometime."

Suddenly, the four of them shift uncomfortably, and the conversation dies.

Sighing, I turn my focus back to my plate. Clearly, I'd said the wrong thing.

We suffer through the rest of the meal in virtual silence, and it's not until my staff clears the dishes away and brings out desserts with a carafe of coffee that I attempt again.

"I suppose we can do away with the pleasantries at this point. You know why Dom asked you to come: Your alpha forcibly removed Derrek from my territory and I'm concerned about his safety. I don't want to interfere with your pack business, but I need to know that he's okay, and free to leave if he wants to."

The three younger men turn to Jeff, whose jaw clenches and eyebrows lower. "You say you don't want to interfere in our pack business, but it seems to me that's exactly what you're trying to do," he retorts in a gravelly voice. "What business is it of yours if he's okay? Leaf belongs to Pack Montrose."

A surge of fury rises in my chest at the challenge, and I force it down with a few slow breaths. I can't reveal just why he's so important to me, or it'll put him in even more danger. "He and I have been friends for a very long time, dating back to my childhood in Los Angeles. He was here, teaching classes, before your alpha entered my territory, claimed he was his heir, and took him against his will. I have every reason to be concerned about his well being."

"The alpha can do whatever he likes with his pack members."

"It's my understanding that Derrek was disowned by the pack when he failed to complete a mission on behalf of the alpha."

"Once he knew Leaf was his son, the alpha chose to be merciful and welcome him back."

"I wouldn't consider tying Derrek up and dragging him away very ‘welcoming.'"

"Well, like I said, it's none of your business," the older man replies stubbornly.

The fury gets the better of me. "If you're so determined to be unhelpful, why did you even come here?"

Jeff meets my energy head on, snarling right back. "I wanted to know if you're the incredible alpha Dom claims you are, or if you're just a teenage girl on a power trip. So far I haven't seen anything to impress me."

A swift wave of gratification swoops through me to hear that, despite his behavior, my uncle has been singing my praises to complete strangers.

My mates have been dutifully silent until now, but at this insult, Milo jumps to his feet, his chair tumbling backward. "You will not speak to the alpha that way in her own home," he snarls viciously. "You are a guest here, and as such, I won't dishonor her by attacking you. However, if you have no interest in helping, I'm happy to show you to the door."

When he rises, my eyes turn to him in surprise. A deep angry red creeps up his face, veins pulsing in his neck as he verbally tears into the much older man. His fingers grip the table so tightly they're turning white.

"Milo." I set a hand gently on his arm. "Thank you. I can take it from here."

My mate exhales a long, unsteady breath and reclaims the seat Mr. Carson had already replaced behind him.

I give him one more reassuring pat and turn my attention back to my apparent opponent. "I'm not here to put on a performance for you," I tell him coldly. "Dom assured me there were good people at Pack Montrose that want us to work together. I invited you here on good faith, but if you have none for me, this conversation is over."

"He's not free to leave," Billy interjects in a rush. "He's being held against his will. And they're hurting-"

"Billy!" Jeff turns to the younger man in absolute fury. "Shut it, now!"

"What does it matter? She already knows he doesn't want to be there. It's hardly as if she doesn't suspect they're torturing him."

It's not the news I was hoping for, but his willingness to talk gives me a tiny crumb of hope.

"So what exactly do you expect of me, Jeff? What were you hoping to see that would impress you? So far, I've welcomed you into my home, served you dinner, and attempted to be civil despite your behavior."

The older man snorts, his face turning red. "More than fancy houses and tea time, that's for damn sure. All I see is a spoiled little girl who surrounds herself with weak males and differential staff that play into her every whim. You-"

"That is enough," I growl, the alpha command rumbling deep in my chest as I stand and face him. "I don't hold power over my pack because I threaten them with violence or submission. My pack is strong because we all believe in one thing, despite the curse we live under, thanks to your pack. So I'd say it is a sign of incredible strength that—despite all of that—I've reached out to you in the hopes we could work together. That members of my pack are here serving you without complaint or animosity, knowing that you enjoy freedoms your ancestors stripped from us decades ago."

Jeff stands, leaning over the table to meet me at eye level despite being nearly a foot taller. "If you're so strong, prove it."

I glare at him without flinching. "And what exactly would you consider ‘proving it'?"

At this, he rises to his full height. "I've only been defeated by two wolves: the alpha, and the beta. If you can best me in a fight, then perhaps I'll believe you can take on our alpha."

He wants me to fight him as a wolf? Doesn't he realize females are stronger?

My eyes dart to Roxanne, who clears her throat. "By Montrose tradition, wolves hold contests to determine their place in the pack. It's not similar to the fights you've had in the past," she adds, implication clear: he's unable to claim my position as alpha even if he wins.

And he will lose spectacularly.

"Fine," I agree. "We'll have your little showdown in front of my pack at midnight."