Chapter 278

There are so many people set to eat dinner at once that Mom puts the table extenders in to add a couple more feet to the table. Yet even with this new space, things are so tight that the Alpha King makes two of his guards stand. They aren’t to eat at all, apparently, but stand by the doorway instead.

They don’t seem to mind overmuch. I suppose they probably haven’t expected to eat. And, more likely, they must be used to the Alpha King’s jerk-like behavior by now. He doesn’t see people as people but instead as objects to be used to whatever ends he deems necessary.

One person is noticeably absent from the dining room table: Steven. Likely, he is continuing to work on the security system. No one says that, however.

Instead, when the Alpha King asks, “Where is Steven?”

Neil replies, “He is feeling under the weather.”

Mr. Hayes narrows his eyes. “Too sick to visit with his own father.”

Neil has no outward reaction to Mr. Hayes obvious annoyance. “I thought it best not to have him puking all over our hostess’s meal.”

Everyone froze for a minute, even Isaac and Mom, who have, until now, seemed the most pleased about this situation. From Mom’s own admission, she recognizes the brothers are in a disagreement with their father. While she might not realize her own danger, she knows the brothers might not be entirely safe.

Mr. Hayes tilts his head a little. “Perhaps I should send one of my men to check on him. To help calm a father’s worried heart.” He gives Mom a sympathetic look. “You understand?”

Behind him, subtly, the two guards at the door pull back their suitcoats and reveal the guns they have holstered underneath. No doubt they are filled with silver bullets.

We haven’t started eating yet, despite the food cooling on the table, but Mom still clears her throat. “Yes, of course. I understand.” Her words are too stiff to be true.

Mom might believe herself to be in no danger, but she’s no dummy. She knows a fight might still break out.

“Why don’t we all enjoy dinner for now?” she says in a kind, peace-maker tone. “Perhaps by the time we finish, Steven will be feeling well enough to join us.”

“We could have coffee after dinner,” Isaac says. “I have some new cigars…”

“Cigars?” That peaks the Alpha King’s interest, and for the moment, he is distracted away from the topic of Steven.

The rest of us begin passing around the food. It all looks delicious, and because Mom always makes too much, there’s more than enough for all of us, including the guards if they are ever allowed to eat.

When everyone has some of every food on their plate, we begin eating. The tension is so thick, it’s strangling. I half-want to hide under the table until all this over, but I’m no coward.

Everyone is being cordial right now. Everyone is eating. Everything’s fine.

But it feels like this moment sits on the edge of a knife. It can’t possibly last, and all too soon someone is going to get cut.

I have so many people I want to protect, and they are almost all at this table. Even Mia is in a new highchair sitting on Mom’s right. Mom went all out after hearing the baby is visiting.

If something goes sideways, and something happens to any of these people that I love…

Mom shoots me a telling glance. I look down. I’ve cut too hard into my chicken and am scraping the bottom of the plate with the knife. I cough politely and lower my knife.

Only Isaac seems mostly unaffected by the tension. He continues to make small talk with the Alpha King. After their discussion of cigars, they talk about the weather, and then something specific to Isaac’s work that I have trouble following.

When that is done, Isaac gestures to me. “Chloe, you know. It’s going to be her birthday soon.”

Neil and Beau perk up at look at me. Archer tilts his head, indicating more subtly that she is listening.

“Is it?” the Alpha King says, leering at me. “How old will you be this year?”

I don’t want him to know, so I say, “I don’t remember.”

“Chloe,” Mom scolds.

But the Alpha King just laughs. “I like them with spirit!”

Oh, gross. Steven might be pretend sick but I might be sick for real any minute with talk like that.

“Her wolf is starting to manifest,” Isaac continues. I’m annoyed as hell about this admission. I told that to Mom! And though I don’t mind her sharing the things I tell her with her husband, that doesn’t mean I want everyone to know! Especially Alpha King Hayes! “We’re hoping her wolf will help her recognize her mate.”

Archer does lift his head now, and I suddenly have three sets of eyes looking right at me.

Gods, I really don’t want to have this conversation in front of the brothers. Or worse, their father.

Everything is complicated enough as it is. Why do we need to make everything even more impossibly complicated?

If I meet my mate… What would happen between me and the brothers?

We would have to go our separate ways, right?

This is not the time to be thinking about that. I need to focus on this situation and somehow surviving it.

My thoughts scramble as I try to think of a way out of this mess. A subject change. Yes, that’s what we need. But what?

Before I can think of something innocuous enough, Mia begins to fuss, claiming the entire table’s attention. She’s already pushed the food Mom tried to give her onto the ground. But now, she starts banging her hands on the tray of the high chair.

She wants out.

“Mom,” I start, but she’s already moving to release Mia and hold her instead. I shouldn’t have worried. Mom taught me everything I know about babies, after all. She was the nanny tutor to the nanny tutor.

“There, there,” Mom coos at Mia and she shuffles her in her arms.

The rest of us return to uneasy eating.

Except the Alpha King, who is staring at Mia.

Mom notices. “Would you like to hold your granddaughter, sir?”

My brain skids to a full and complete stop. Granddaughter?

Oh my Gods, Mom thinks Mia belongs to one of the brothers. It’s far too late for me to explain that Mia is, in fact, their sister.

Beau chokes on his food a moment. Archer slams him hard on the back. Neil slowly lowers his fork. Mine’s already on the table.

Mom starts to stand. Archer stands too, quickly, presumably to stop her. But at the same time, one of the guards takes a step forward from the wall.

My breath catches. Oh shit. It’s about to go down.

Neil’s hands are in fists, sitting on the table top. Beau is openly glaring.

But then the Alpha King raises his hand, open palm, and no one moves an inch more.

The Alpha King looks first at Mia, then up at my Mom. An empty, snake-like smile crosses his lips.

He says, “I would love to hold, Mia.”