Northwood

Before long Adline and Harvey made it to what looked like the formal dining area. She wondered curiously why it was so far away from the kitchen she had been in previously.

“It’s about time you showed up Harvey. What took you so long?” The pair turned to see Kane standing behind them and Adline couldn’t help but catch her breath. He was dressed in a dark suit that fit him far too well. From head to foot everything about him looked perfectly put together and she couldn’t help the reluctant feelings that filled her quickly. “Where is Taylor?”

Adline wanted to do nothing but curse herself as she found an icy pair of eyes staring directly at her.

“Victoria happened, Alpha.” Replied Harvey quickly.

Kane reluctantly broke his gaze with Adline and gave Harvey a curious but questioning glare, “and?” Kane was used to Victoria interrupting his life but that wasn’t enough of an answer to satisfy him.

“And then along the way your mother.” Replied Harvey without giving the Alpha much room to breathe.

With a great sigh he shook his head, “say no more. I understand.” To an outsider like Adline it sounded as if that kind of occurrence was more than a little common in Kane’s house. His focus then turned back to Adline and he seemed less than impressed. “What happened to the dress?” Though he eyed Adline his question was not directed at her.

“She said it was like that or not at all.” Replied Harvey somewhat nervously.

“I can’t rely on any of you can I?” Kane was more than a little disappointed which really surprised his reluctant guest. “Looks like both you and Taylor will be getting a transfer as well.”

Not liking what he was saying Adline seemed to snap out of the spell she’d fallen under. “None of it was their fault.” She replied crossing her arms sternly. “It isn’t their fault I didn’t want to come or have anything to do with you.” She thought him cruel and mean and really wished a meteor would fall from the sky, through the above floors of the large home and strike him down.

Unfortunately no matter how much she glared at him and no matter how long she waited nothing happened.

Kane seemed to ponder what Adline thought for a minute before replying to Harvey. He noted that his cousins shoulders had slumped and the look on his face seemed grim and final. With a shake of his head Kane surprised himself with what he was about to say, “Well it looks like you will be around to disappoint me tomorrow Harvey. You may return to your duties now.” He knew that what he said was out of the blue, it was evident on both the faces he stared at that his words were completely unexpected.

“What about Frosty?” Asked Adline interrupting Kane’s train of thought quickly.

“Babel will not be returning. She has other situations to deal with right now.” The look he shot at Adline sent shivers down her spine. It was a look that left her with a sour taste in her mouth. What could have possibly popped up in the last few hours that meant she was unable to be Adline’s charge?

“Can I have a female watcher then? Harvey isn’t exactly my type of company.” Huffed Adline quickly as she turned to glare at Kane. He didn’t seem completely unreasonable? Perhaps she just had to pick the right topic to push him on.

“I’ll think about it. Come. Dinner is ready.” Kane held his hand out to her to take but she pushed past him and entered a set of grand doors to what was obviously a formal dining area. Two servants stood at one end of a very long table, the two obvious settings right across from each other. The double storied room was ornately decorated. The dark, moody room was complimented with equally dark wooden floors done in a parquetry pattern. It looked like a room fit for a royal family or the president of a country. Not for a pack of werewolves.

“How the hell do you guys afford this? You’re a pack of werewolves! No other pack I know has rooms as grand as this.” It struck her as completely strange that one of the smallest packs had such wealth.

“Business. Smart business.” Were the only words to come from his mouth as he ushered Adline towards the table. As they grew nearer both servants moved to stand behind one seat each and as the pair sat the servants did all the work for them.

The entire thing seemed completely pompous to Adline, who even lived like this anymore? In her house there had been her, her parents and her two brothers. Adline and her siblings often fought like dogs but as she took her seat at the ridiculously long table a smile creased her lips at the warm memories that filled her mind quickly.

They played out like little movies in her head and her favourite was always dinner time when her mother would ask for the table to be set. Neither she nor her brothers ever budged. “It’s only two minutes away,” she remembered her mother calling from the kitchen. Adline felt her skin prickle as her mother’s voice sounded like it called to her from the other side. The amusement that filled her gentle voice filled Adi with sorrow as the memories faded as quickly as they came.

She didn’t need to look across the table to know that Kane was staring at her intently as the servants fussed about them. He’d seen the warmth flood her features and light up her face, the smile she graced him with was enough to light up the largest room in the house but he knew it wasn’t for him. He knew he’d have to work harder than that. “Leave,” he demanded suddenly.

Looking at him with a questioning look she found it strange that he should make such a demand when demanded that she be present for the pompous dinner. “Fine! But you don’t have to be such a jack ass about it!” Adline could feel the blood rushing through her veins as her heart began beating faster. She was ready to berate him with everything she had as he sat there with an emotionless face just staring at her. She pushed back in her seat only to find that she couldn’t.

Turning her head to the side the female servant smiled down at her, “as you command Alpha.” The female servant began placing food before Adline who couldn’t help but crane her head around to see where she was getting it from. The cart behind her was laden with more than enough food to feed an entire pack.

“I’ll do it.” Bit Kane quickly as the woman stilled her hands and turned to him with a questioning look, “I said leave!” This time his words came a bit louder and with a bit more ferocity, he was serious. The woman and man looked at each other carefully before taking a step backwards, curtsying to their Alpha and turning to leave the room.

Kane sat still as Adline watched the pair walk to the furthest door in the room, their steps echoed through her ears as she felt nervous. Why had he demanded they leave? What had she done now? When the door finally opened and closed silence filled the room instantly.

“What’s the point of having servants if you don’t let them serve?” Asked Adline trying to fill the awkward silence with pointless chatter.

She watched as he pushed back against his seat and stood. He straightened his suit before walking round the end of the table to stand next to her. He was far too vain for her liking but how could she break that to him gently.

He came to stand next to her, the smell of him completely intoxicating her as she sat trying not to turn and look up at him. Adline absolutely hated the effect he had on her but from what her father had told her about the mating process this was completely normal. She never imagined that the man she was destined to spend the rest of her life with would resent her as much as he did. What kind of person wanted that for themselves?

“Why are you so cruel? If you have no intention at all of getting to know me why keep me here?” Adline grew irritated with his presence as he placed food before her silently. He did not once look at her as he did so and before he even said anything he returned to his seat at the opposite side of the table.

Returning his napkin to his lap he leaned back in his seat comfortably then looked Adline in the eye. She constantly baffled her. There in his eyes she spied a mischievous look, though he was still guarded his eyes spoke of something else.

“I am what I am because I need to be.” He stated simply as he motioned for Adline to eat. “Wine?” He offered carefully as he held up a decanter filled with the alcoholic beverage. “I am assured it is particularly nice with the roast beef.”

She was astonished to the point that she felt as though her mouth hung open. He suddenly seemed different and she came to the conclusion that he was bi-polar.....or schizophrenic. Perhaps he even had multiple personalities.

“Only if it’s spiked with vodka and tequila.” She replied without missing a beat. “Maybe then I’ll wake up from this nightmare.” She noticed a sourness try and fail to invade his features.

He grinned at what she said, “vodka and tequila? Well I had assumed you were a little daring but that just proves it.”

Taking food from the various platters before her Adline was more than a little stunned to see that he actually had a personality. “Why do you have to be cruel?” She asked referring to his riddle.

“It is difficult to explain.” He replied placing the decanter of wine in the middle of the table. “Unfortunately vodka and tequila are not permitted in this house by decree of Myrna.” The grin he held faltered a little as he emptied his glass a little.

“Who is Myrna?” Asked Adline with ease, it seemed that when he was alone Kane was much more personable.

Adline stuffed a roast potato in to her mouth and bit down hard savouring the flavour. Though it was a simple roast potato it was phenomenal and she knew there had been something done to it to make it that much better.

“The crabby old woman you ran in to is my mother that is Myrna.” Adline was more than a little surprised to hear how he spoke of his mother.

“What happened to your brother?” To her it was an innocent question but she couldn’t imagine what his answer could be to make Harvey and Taylor respond the way they did.

“He has been banished. There is no need to worry about him and I will not speak of him.” Kane knew that his mother was still saddened by the outcome of the fight and that she missed her youngest son who was by far the biggest mommy’s boy ever but Kane would not dwell on it. Luce needed to be banished for even thinking he was strong enough to challenge him for the title of Alpha. There was no way it would have been the same between them afterwards.

“But-” Adline tried to counter quickly only to be cut off by Kane again.

“I said I will not speak of him. That is the end of the conversation.” The sternness in his voice made her shrink in her seat.

A lump rose in her throat as she felt tears spring to her eyes. She was never really one to ever feel sorry for herself but since being cooped up in the Northwood home she found that all she could do was feel sorry for herself.

“May I be excused?” She asked meekly.

Kane took a long hard look at her and realised that she was near crying. He couldn’t comfort her and wouldn’t be seen comforting her but part of him wanted to.

“Harvey!!” He yelled loudly as he stared at the large door they had stepped through previously.

Hearing footsteps against the parquetry floor Harvey appeared quickly like they had all been trained to, “sir?”

“Escort Mrs Hutton back to her room.” He barked quickly as Harvey helped her from her seat and rushed out the door with her.

Kane sat for a long time after they’d disappeared, he didn’t know how to deal with her. Every time he tried she asked for something impossible. The servants returned to the room and cleared the table as Kane himself stood and walked towards his office. He needed quiet and solitude, he needed to do something before he broke something.

Navigating the hallways quickly he soon came to a familiar door that for some reason sat a little ajar. With a questioning brow raised he pushed it open and saw his mother sitting near the fireplace reading something. He entered the room and closed the door behind him. His presence caught his mother’s attention but she did not look up from what she read as he walked to her.

“Don’t tell me your date has ended already son?” She questioned him lightly as Kane walked to a section of the bookshelf near the fireplace that looked like all others.

He pulled one of the books and heard a click. Swinging the hidden compartment open quickly he grinned partly at his hidden bar and partly at what his mother had said. “Unfortunately mother it is over and I do not wish to speak of it.” Though he’d spoken to Adline in a similar way just moments before his words lacked the bite they’d had as he pulled out a decanted bottle of spirits and two glasses.

Myrna looked up from her reading material and raised a brow at her son, “good. Now I know where you keep your stash.” The grey haired woman grinned mischievously. It had always been her husband’s policy that strong spirits and distilled alcohol impaired their kind greatly.

“Lucky for me that isn’t my only stash.” Fired Kane quickly. “What are you doing in here?” He asked curiously as he took a seat next to her and offered a glass of the amber whiskey from the bottle in his hand. She graciously accepted.

“I wanted to hear about the beautiful woman you’ve been keeping hostage while I’ve been away.” She took a sip of the warm whiskey and grimaced, “give me some ice please.” She watched her son roll his eyes and return to his hidden bar quickly.

“There is nothing to tell. She is mine and that is all.” He returned and handed her the glass now freshened with ice.

“That is not all Kane. You cannot expect her to find any kind of love for you if you keep her chained like a dog.” Myrna saw the young woman and immediately saw the unhappiness in her eyes but the way she spoke to Victoria warmed Myrna’s heart greatly.

“I will not be having this conversation with you mother.” He growled as he stood from his seat and placed his hands in to his pockets.

“Yes you will Kane and you will listen to me. You may be my Alpha but I am still your mother.” It was the one way she knew how to put Kane in his place. No matter how big he got as Alpha of the Northwood pack he always reneged when she reminded him of who she was. “That girl has lost everything she has ever known and loved and for you to keep her locked up is one of the saddest things I have ever seen.” Myrna had always been known for her brutal honesty and sharp wit and it didn’t matter who it was she would let them know exactly how she felt and what she thought. Even her son wasn’t immune to it and neither was her husband.

“I have a reputation to uphold mother. I will not be seen as a weak Alpha.” He replied quickly as he took his seat again.

“Oh no son.” She began quickly as she took another sip of her whiskey, “you will only be seen as the asshole that banishes anyone that doesn’t agree with him.” Myrna fired back instantly.

Kane thought about what she said and sighed. He’d only ever wanted to do right by his family and by the memory of his father.

“I want people to respect me.” He stated simply as he looked as his mother whose eyes were now filled with sadness for him. “I want people to see me as a strong leader like they did with dad.”

Without Myrna realising it tears escaped her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. It had been hard living without her husband but she had to in order to be useful to her son.

“Stop trying to live up to your father’s reputation and build your own. Step out of his shadow and in to your own light son.” She stood from her seat and hugged him, “if you keep trying to live up to the memory of your father you will never live a happy life.” She told him grimly, “and if you keep going on the path you are on that girl you have there will never grow to love you.” She kissed the top of her sons head and bid him a good night as she left him there in front of the fireplace with his bottle of whiskey.

Though she worried for what he might do she knew that some of what she said had gotten through, the fact that he had admitted something was all the proof that she needed.

He would be a great Alpha if he stepped in to his own expectations and didn’t worry about his father’s legacy. She could hope still.