SWNOVELS Chapter Chapter Seven
"Eve, what would you like to drink?" Grace asked happily.
"Some tea would be great. Thank you." She smiled at the elderly woman.
Ashley and Evan were chatting with Elijah. Eve barely had time to consider approaching them, before Flint stepped up beside her and grasped her waist.
"How are you?" He probed quietly.
"Fine." She smiled.
The Alpha could tell that his mate was thinking about something but that it didn't distress her. He relaxed a bit as Grace brought their beverages.
"Flint." Elijah greeted his son as he approached.
Eve looked him over. He carried the same thin, black cane as when she met him the first time. His dark hair had silver woven through it and his dark eyes gave away none of his feelings. His impeccable black suit did nothing to reduce his intimidating air.
"Father." He nodded toward him.
"Elijah. How are you?" Eve smiled politely.
"Doing well. And you?" Elijah's eyes seemed to study her closely.
"Same here." Flint answered for her.
"She's still throwing her voice into Flint's mouth." Evan chuckled.
"Evie! Evie! Come see what Grandpa got me!" Christian's small voice cut through the air.
Eve smiled and nodded to Elijah before heading toward the sofa, where the boy had planted himself. He held up a plastic truck for her to examine.
"It' very cool! What does it do?" She asked cheerfully.
"If I press this button, the back moves. See! I can dump stuff and everything!" Chris beamed.
"Awesome!" Eve nodded enthusiastically.
"Dinner is served!" Grace announced.
Everyone made their way to the table. Flint caught Eve's hand, causing them to fall behind the others.
"Ashley is tense. My father is suspicious. Evan is nervous. What's going on?" He whispered.
"I think it'd be best if you heard everything from Ashley. Just know that everything is alright." She touched his cheek gently.
"I don't like it." He scoffed.
"I know." She couldn't help but smile a bit at his annoyance.
"Flint, Eve?" Elijah called out.
The Alpha couple entered and sat beside one another. Looking over the assortment of food in front of them gave everyone a slight pause. At the center of the table was a roasted turkey. That would have been normal if it weren't plated beside some broiled chicken and a bowl of sautéed liver.
"Were you in a carnivorous mood?" Evan probed.
"I couldn't decide on one meat, so I didn't." Elijah shrugged casually.
Flint and Eve shared a look. She had been unable to keep down most foods...
"Is something wrong?" Elijah's gaze fell on Eve.
"Absolutely not." She forced a small smile.
Once everything was plated in front of her, Eve took a small bite of ham. Surprisingly, her stomach didn't flip or become nauseated. Instead, she felt even hungrier. Flint watched as Eve finished her entire plate. His expression went from anxious to thrilled in a matter of minutes.
A smile pulled on the corners of the Alpha's lips. He took a sip of his drink and when he raised his eyes, he saw his father observing him. Flint met his gaze with a neutral look on his face, but his eyes spoke outwardly about his relief.
The conversation moved from pack politics, to Christian's schooling, and then to stories from years ago. Eve gave her opinion every now and then, but all she could seem to focus on was the food Flint was placing in front of her.
"I know! Then Aunt Selena pushed his face into the cake." Ashley laughed.
The room grew tense at the mention of Elijah's missing mate.
"It was my tenth birthday, so I'll forgive her." Flint shrugged in an attempt to ease the awkwardness.
Eve glanced from her mate to his father. Elijah was clearly stiff and uncomfortable. It was a feeling that washed through the mindlink anytime he thought of his life since Selena left.
Elijah raised his gaze up to meet Eve's. She watched as his eyes flickered to her plate before a small, almost unnoticeable smile flashed across his face. However, it was gone before Eve could even be sure she'd seen it.
"Did everyone get enough to eat?" Grace asked as she refilled drinks.
"I believe so." Flint smiled peacefully as he looked at the dish in front of his mate. It was once again empty.
"I'm so full!" Chris slumped back in his seat.
"Good." Elijah nodded. "Grace, would you take Chris to the den? He would probably rather play with his toys than hear us chatting."
"Absolutely. Come on, honey." Grace picked the boy up and left the room.
"Ashley, you wanted us to have this meal for a reason. Now is the time you explain why." Elijah stood.
"Of course." She nodded uncomfortably.
They followed Elijah into the living room where everyone sat, waiting to hear the reason they had all been summoned. Ashley took Evan's hand, silently conveying her support.
"I have some good news." Evan began, "I've been made director of cardiology."
"That's great." Elijah looked at him skeptically.
"It is. So what else is there? I can tell there's more and that you're worried about it." Flint probed.
"You got me... The job is in Monette. At the human hospital." He stated.
"Monette is over three hours away..." Elijah's eyes moved to Ashley.
"Yes, sir. It is. In order for Evan to further his career, we would have to move there." She glanced between her uncle and cousin worriedly.
"You are the Beta wolf of this pack. Have you thought about that at all?" Flint asked in a stern tone.
"Of course I have..." She sighed.
Flint looked at Eve from the corner of his eye. She nodded slightly to confirm that this was the issue Ashley wanted to inform her about earlier. Ashley looked at Eve too, but she did so while in need of support.
"You want to leave the pack? Open up your position of Beta to another tournament? Right now?!" Flint took a deep breath, failing to calm his frustration. "We're in the beginning of war and you want to bail out?! Leave us weak and lacking ranks?!"
Eve could feel his anger and frustration welling up in her own chest. On the outside Flint looked furious, stiff, and controlled. However, his mate could feel that he was fearful about leaving their pack and family open to attacks.
"My father is the Beta of the GraySky pack." Eve stated, drawing all eyes to her. "He is present for every meeting, he makes decisions during the times when Skyler is away, and he even schedules the security patrols."
"We know. What's your point?" Elijah probed.
"My point is, Ashley doesn't do any of that. Being Beta to StarLight was never her goal. She got placed there. If she pursues her dreams, we won't be at a loss. We could find a Beta who does all the things for our pack, that my father does for GraySky. And... Ashley may actually be able to find her own happiness."
Flint opened his mouth to respond but paused. Eve took his hand in an attempt to calm his inner beast. She could feel the Alpha wolf stirring in his mind.
She has a responsibility! Holding a tournament for Beta right now will only cause more fear and uncertainty. The animal was certain.
She's never lived up to her obligations anyway. Eve is right about that. Flint sighed internally.
That won't matter when we have lacking ranks and we're attacked. The beast argued.
I know that. He snapped.
"No." Flint stated simply.
"I'm sorry... What?" Ashley asked.
"We are going to war. You know this. Mother is missing. Bastian is on the loose. Steven left not long ago so we have an inexperienced elder like Edward at the table..." He shook his head resolutely. "The answer is no. You have to stay. Evan can pursue his career as he sees fit, but you have a role to play here."
"And if I refuse to stay?" Ashley asked defiantly.
Flint rose to his feet, slowly stretching up to full height. His cousin stood too, though her eyes did little to hide how intimidated she was. Eve stood up as well, hoping to place herself between them.
Do not move. Flint's wolf entered her mind.
These few words rooted the Luna in place.
"What do you think?" The Alpha's deep voice resembled an oncoming avalanche.