Chapter 102

Tessa’s POV

“Nice to see you too, Bernard,” Joseph said as he placed his plate and coffee mug on the table beside the blonde guy.

The blonde guy looked up from his meal and looked at me curiously with a timid frown before looking at Joseph.

“Welcome back, man,” he said, giving Joseph what seemed like a genuine smile.

“Good to be back,” Joseph said in return.

“You shouldn’t have brought her here, Joseph. How careless are you?” Bernard went on to scold.

I sat down beside Joseph, feeling all sorts of awkward. Bernard’s voice carried throughout the dining hall, gaining some unwanted attention.

“Sit down, Bernard,” Joseph ordered casually as he took a sip of his coffee. It didn’t seem like he was bothered at all, like this was just typical Bernard. “Tessa is my guest and will be treated as such.”

“You are putting her and us at risk. We worked hard to become domesticated. Her blood poses a problem,” Bernard continued, glaring at Joseph as if he had just slapped him in the face.

The woman that sat beside him reached her hand up and placed it on Bernard’s arm.

“Sweetheart, just sit down. People are noticing and that’s something we don’t want,” she said in a calm and soothing tone.

Her voice was familiar, but I couldn’t figure out where I had heard it.

Bernard seemed to have relaxed from her voice and touch and he lowered himself back into his seat.

“I never meant to cause such a frenzy,” I found myself saying, making all four of them turn and look at me.

It was the woman who spoke, and she gave me such a kind smile.

“Bernard is just being cautious. He doesn’t want any of our people to lose control and destroy everything they’ve worked so hard for. But I have a little more faith in our tribe than that. You don’t need to worry, darling. You are safe here. Especially while under Joseph’s radar.”

I couldn’t help but smile at her and I nodded my head, believing every word she spoke.

“Thank you,” I said to her genuinely.

“Yeah, old man Bernard is just freaking out because the last tribe he was a part of fell apart. This tribe is like his baby, and he won’t let anything happen to his baby,” the blonde-haired guy said with a ghost of a smile, making Joseph snort.

“Tessa, I’d like you to meet, Carter,” Joseph said, shaking his head at the blonde guy. “He’s one of my closest friends here and undoubtedly the strongest.”

I knew there was a possibility that Joseph had real friends, but I found it hard to imagine and I certainly didn’t think I’d be meeting them.

“Nice to meet you, gorgeous,” Carter said, winking at me.

I couldn’t help but smile at him.

“Likewise,” I said in return, trying to sound comfortable.

“And this is Anastasia,” Joseph continued as he gestured for the beautiful woman in front of Carter. “Bernard’s wife.”

That’s why I recognized her voice. She was the woman who came over to Joseph’s house last night and gave him food. She sounded kind last night too but I was so tired I didn’t realize just how soothing and nurturing her voice really was.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you,” she said with a kind smile. “And please, call me Anna.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Anna,” I said, giving her a head nod in return.

“Then of course you already met Bernard,” Joseph said, staring at Bernard who was back to eating his food.

He glanced at me briefly and gave me a head nod as a greeting, at least it was a start. I knew that he didn’t trust me, but I wasn’t one to shy away from a challenge.

I wondered how they determined the position of power. I knew Bernard was the one who turned Joseph, so I assume that he’s the one in charge. But what did that make Joseph? He’s well-respected around here.

Was I allowed to ask that question?

“I’m having a barbeque tonight, Tessa,” Anna started to say. “I hope you and Joseph can make it.”

I looked up at Joseph. He initially didn’t want to throw me in the mix of a big social gathering, but I guess now that I’m in the dining hall with literally everybody in his tribe, I figured it might be okay to go to the barbecue. But I didn’t want to say that out loud and undermine Joseph in front of his friends, so I waited for his response.

“We’ll be there,” Joseph said, giving her a head nod.

“Oh, good,” she breathed. “It might be good for everyone to get to know her. Right, Bernard?” She asked, peering up at her husband.

Bernard mumbled something I didn’t catch but whatever he said, it made Carter burst out laughing.

“Typical grumpy old man energy,” Carter laughed, which made Anna chuckle and Joseph crack a smile.

“So, Tessa. How are you liking the mountains so far?” Anna asked, glancing over at me with such a kind look.

I was chewing on some bacon when she asked so I waited until I swallowed to speak.

“It’s absolutely gorgeous here” I breathed. “I had no idea there could be an entire village hidden in the mountains. I’ve never actually been to the mountains before.”

“Where are you from?” Carter asked as he took a big mouthful of his meat-lovers omelet.

“The countryside,” I answered. “I grew up on my father’s farm. It’s been him and me for as long as I can remember.”

“What about your mom?” Carter asked, which provoked a mean look from Joseph. “What? Just curious,” Carter said innocently.

“It’s okay,” I said, giving Joseph a small smile. “I don’t mind talking about it. My mother died when I was born. I’ve never met her. But my father always tells me wonderful stories about her. Every year on her birthday we would go and visit her grave. My father would write short stories for her, and we’d read them to her grave. I’d like to think she can hear us wherever she is.”

“That’s beautiful,” Anna breathed, giving me a fond and loving smile. “I’m so sorry you never got a chance to meet your mother.” A little sadness crossed her face that didn’t go unnoticed.

Anna seemed very kind and even Carter seemed friendly. He wasn’t afraid to ask questions and he made everybody laugh. But Bernard still looked at me in a way that made me uneasy. I could tell he didn’t trust me and that was worrisome. Obviously, he meant a lot to Joseph. He did turn Joseph into what he is, so I imagine Bernard’s opinions matter a lot to him.

I wondered what his opinion was of me and what he was going to say to Joseph about me.

“Was nobody going to wake me?” I heard an unfamiliar voice from behind us, making me jump. “I was only upstairs. I would have been here before all the bacon was eaten. You know they stop making it after a certain time.”

Before I could grasp where that annoyed-sounding voice was coming from, somebody was taking a seat next to me, placing his plate down and then his cup of coffee.

The guy that sat down, like the rest of the men at this table, was incredibly muscular with tattoos occupying his arm. He wore a tank top revealing all the tattoos on his muscles. His face had a 5 o’clock shadow and his curly brown hair messily swirled around his face.

I could tell he had just woken up.

He ran his fingers through his hair and mumbled something under his breath, causing everyone at the table, except me, to chuckle.

But then he froze entirely, his body tensing and his eyes moving to my direction. He held my eyes for a beat of silence before asking, “Who the fuck are you?”