Seven

A lady must always wait to be introduced first. They must present themselves to those superior to them with grace and a curtsy. A lady must never engage in a shaking of hands.

✾

Alpha Irvine is taller than how I expected him to be.

I believe he stands at most 7ft tall. His muscles were burly and taut making his suit almost look like second skin. I was staring, that I know, but I couldn't help myself. A large scar runs from his forehead down to his left cheek. And the place where his left eyes is supposed to be lies a pale silver glass eye. He did look like someone who would kill a maid for just breaking plates. Just looking at him, you could tell he murders for fun.

Then he speaks, and the vision I have for him vanishes. His voice is hard but soft at the same time, like when your father reprimands you but then forgives you the second you bat your eyelashes at him. Not that I can recall by experience, I just believe it’s something that happens with a good father-daughter relationship.

Oddly enough, he was actually conversing with us and laughing with us. He had such a welcoming aura that I'm trying my hardest to understand if what Eleanor told me and if what Holly said yesterday was true.

Because the man sitting in the middle of the table cannot be a murderer.

"I'm loving everyone's dresses. The gowns back at the academe was horrendous," Alpha Irvine noted while a servant filled his glass with wine. He frowned and rubbed his chin "Silas had always been the patriot. I told him you girls could choose dresses of any color. It didn't have to be green or silver."

Silas probably wanted to get into the Alpha's good graces. He didn't give us a chance to choose our own dresses, instead, he had one already ordered. Mine was a simple long flowing gown with lace sleeves. Although the styles were different for each of us, the shades were pretty much the same. I was lucky enough that my clothes were green and it made both my eyes and skin pop. It also matched my black detector. Those with silver gowns had their detectors look like it was a dog collar.

I mean it sort of was but at least mine looked fashionable.

"My apologies, Alpha. I just felt like it would be appropriate for the occasion. This is the first time you'll be meeting my consorts," Silas said. He was sitting next to his father. And although he's already in his twenties, he looked like such a small child compared to Alpha Irvine. "And I wanted them to leave a lasting impression on you."

Alpha Irvine nodded and looked at each of us slowly.

His smile fades away, and looks at Silas worriedly.

"Where's Eleanor?"

I shrink back at my seat and play with my thumbs. I knew this would come into discussion. I've prepared answers that might be useful if they ever question my worth. I already knew I would have to prepare to make myself noticeable. I’m not as talented as the others, the least I could do is sound articulate.

I’ve already accepted the fact that Eleanor is an important part in Silas' life. With that in mind, she’s an important person for Alpha Irvine as well. Her mother treated Alpha Irvine as if they were brother and sister from what I heard. I already know this, and yet whenever I picture them together, a hurt that I can never understand comes from my heart.

Which is ridiculous since I cannot stand Silas. I might if he chooses not to speak, yet he does.

I peek from under my eyelashes.

Silas glances at me, his face blank. "I sent you a letter, Alpha. Did you not hear?"

"What do you mean?" He frowned.

"Eleanor...disappeared. There's no better word for it. On her first day here as consort, she never got to have dinner with us. Her room was empty and her necklace was left broken on her bed, we cannot trace her."

Something changed on Alpha Irvine's face then but it was quick and I felt like I just imagined it. He sighed and traced the mouth of his glass. "That's a shame. I was looking forward to welcoming her with open arms. I mean no offense to all you lovely ladies, Eleanor just held a special place in my heart. Who's her replacement?"

That word again.

I hate it.

Raising one of my hands slowly, I look at Alpha Irvine straight in his stupid glass eye.

"My name is Amara."

Alpha Irvine smiles at me, though it doesn't quite reach his eyes. He’s probably disappointed that Eleanor’s replacement isn’t quite an eye catcher as she was. Too bad. "I see, so you're Eleanor's replacement. How are you liking it so far?"

I wanted to be nice but their stares annoyed me. Eleanor’s disappearance wasn’t my fault and yet their stares tell me that they blame me for it. Everyone’s the same, they all expect Eleanor and not Amara. "Most of the things here are perfectly adequate for my needs."

"Oh," Alpha Irvine says, caught off guard with what I just said. I'm sure they're used to compliments and pleasantries but that's just not me. I cannot make a mountain out of a molehill. There's nothing to be that thankful for. What they're giving is the bare minimum, why would I lick their feet? "Is something not what you expected it to be, Amara?"

I shrug, looking at my nails. "Everything is as I expected it to be."

"Then why does it seem like you're not satisfied with what you've been given?" Silas counters then, his voice sharp. If I look up now, I'm sure he was glaring at me. So I don't look up, I keep my eyes focused on my newly polished nails. Karina was so talented when it came to nail care.

"I am satisfied, that's why I said everything's adequate for me. I just don't feel like all my experiences so far deserve a superlative adjective," I answer, earning gasps from everyone else, the loudest probably coming from Katya. I look up this time, Silas was fuming, his ears turning red. I smirk. "But if it bothers you that much, my apologies. I would try to be better next time and be thankful for mediocrity."

I will probably die. However, seeing his face angry was so worth it.

Not to mention my pride probably rocketed up a little.

Everyone was silent, even the servants. They were waiting for something to happen, looking back at me, Silas, and Alpha Irvine. Probably expecting a repeat of what happened to the maid from years ago based on Holly’s story. I was waiting for that too, they wouldn’t dare with that much audience, right?

But then Alpha Irvine laughs and I feel my fear vanish. I actually chuckle with him as well.

"Lighten up, son. Amara's right, she doesn't have to be thankful for much. She's a royal consort, she deserves more than what she's already given," Alpha Irvine slaps the back of Silas, who was still glaring at me, and then smiles at me. "I think I remember you a little now. Eleanor used to tell me of this one girl that constantly follows her around, is that you?"

I freeze.

That was me. Not anymore.

The other consort’s eyes were on me. Everyone at the academe knew we were the closest. I’m sure they were shocked when one morning a few years ago, everything changed. It started from me not joining her for breakfast. They all thought it was my fault, even Eleanor. They kept on asking her what caused our downfall, but no one dared ask me. They assumed it was my fault.

It wasn’t. Nothing was.

"Yes, Alpha. That was me."

If he noticed my indication that it was a thing of the past he doesn't comment about it. He simply stares as understanding dawns on him and moves on asking the other consorts about their day and how they've been liking it so far. Silas still glares at me every now and then but I've lost it in me to fight back.

Memories of how I was years ago flash in my mind. I was always sticking next to her, looking at what she does, imitating her actions. I look to my side where Katya was and my annoyance rises. I was just like her. Small and fragile and probably stupid. I couldn’t do a single thing right. At least not without Eleanor's supervision. I always had to have an okay from her.

I would probably still cling to her if it wasn't for what happened.

I close my eyes and count to ten, the scar at the base of my stomach flaring again.

"I should probably tell you why I decided to visit abruptly," Alpha Irvine announces, gaining all of our attentions in a snap. Even Silas stopped glaring at me and listened. "There have been words of a revolt organized by a general in the Boreas."

Silence envelops us.

Silas broke it. "A what?"

"He said a revolt, Silas." Katya actually answered. We ignored her.

The Boreas is a collection of towns in the north of Cinco by the mountains. Most of the hunters and mercenaries of the government reside there since their main source of income is hunting. Forests are vast in the Boreas. And to think someone from there, probably a general, would start a coup?

"I understand, fear not. I would be personally visiting the Boreas and having a talk with the wolves there," Alpha Irvine said, motioning for one of the servants to refill his glass. "It would probably take me about a month to reach the Boreas and a few more months to get everything settled there. That's why I visited, I'm not sure when I can be here again. When I return one of you would probably be a Luna already."

My eyes widen.

Realization hitting me in an instant.

I look around and check if anyone caught on but they were still busy looking at Alpha Irvine like they understood. Like nothing was out of place. Then I see Mariana looking at me, her eyes calculating. It was just a second and she looked back at Alpha Irvine. I narrow my eyes, did she realize it too?

It was Mariana so I might just be dreaming.

Silas, ever the actor, frowns. "It saddens me that you won't be here for the duration of my picking period, Alpha. However, I know that this is for Cinco so I would not be stopping you from doing your duties."

"I'm really thankful for your understanding, it saddens me that I won't be here too," Alpha Irvine sits up straighter and his smile vanishes. "I would do everything I can for Cinco, no matter what it takes. No one would stand in my way."

His last sentence was guttural and I knew the wolf in him was the one who finished his sentence. The tone was enough to make all of us flinch. Even the servants flinched, especially the one pouring him wine, because he poured it not on Alpha Irvine's glass but he accidentally spilled it over his lap.

"Alpha, my apologies!" the servant suddenly grabbed a napkin and started wiping, sweat forming on his forehead. My eyes find Holly and I see her pale and frozen, her body shaking. Everyone was quiet, even Silas. "I'm really sorry, Alpha. It was an accident."

Alpha Irvine laughed, grabbing the servants shoulder and squeezing. The servant looks confused, we probably did too. All except for Silas, who looked almost bored?

"Relax, you look so scared,” Alpha Irvine chuckled again.

“I'm perfectly fine. It was just a spill."

He was smiling, so the servant smiled too. Relief on his face.

✾

The dinner finished, Alpha Irvine left, and we all went to our respective rooms.

That was when Silas barged into my room as I was in the middle of brushing my untied hair. He was still fuming but he was trying his hardest to form words since he was stuck staring at me. I was in my night clothes, my hair down and not in my usual loose ponytail. I just hopped off the shower too, which made him and his wolf crazy apparently. Because looking at him now and that weird expression on his face I can tell he was having a mental battle with himself.

I'm not an idiot, I can tell men's desire in an instant. I can smell it too.

Silas has to figure out if he wants to kill me or kiss me.

"You only have few chances to speak and yet you choose to be arrogant."

I shrug, standing up and walking past him to reach my vanity. I placed my brush down and turned around, leaning back. I crossed my arms against my chest and stare at him. Making my face as blank as possible.

"You infuriate me so much, number seven. He’s dangerous! You're lucky he didn't cut off your tongue the moment you talked back to me."

I tilt my head and narrow my eyes at him. I wasn’t dumb, I knew the consequences of my actions. But when I think about it though, I feel like embarrassing him in front of his father was worth it. I would die with a smile on my face knowing I infuriated him until my last breath.

He just kept staring at me and I wonder if he knows I can't answer since he didn’t question me.

Silas walks towards me almost closing the distance between us. I find myself tilting my face up to look at him. My heart thumping louder every step he takes towards me. He studies my features, his gaze so intense I almost look away. I don't. I don't know what we're playing at, we're not mates. I don't understand where the pull is coming from. As if forced by an invisible entity, Silas reaches out and brushes a knuckle over my cheekbone, his eyes soft.

"You're too smart for your own good. You understand how dangerous he is, don't you?"

I scoff. "Then why is your 'charity' plan for us the same time as his trip to the Boreas?"

Silas smiles at me. His face tilting to the side. "You're really too smart for your own good."

He doesn't answer me but he knows I'm suspicious of him.

Whatever it is he's planning, I know it won't be good for us.

"Would you want to know my plans, number seven?"

Reluctantly, I nod. My pulse quickening. "I deserve a right to know if you plan to use us as pawns."

“You're not just pawns, you're important pieces. Queens. The game won't start without you consorts. We wouldn’t reach victory without each of you. A storm is coming, you better keep that in mind.”

I keep quiet. Chess is something that I used to do as a hobby back at the academe. I used to play with Eleanor but since we weren’t as close as before, I learned how to play solo. I know the moves, and I know the roles of the pieces. Even if he says that we are queens to this game, we would always just be next to the king. Protecting it. We can never let him die, or else we would too, and the game would be over. We're not important, we're also just another thing he uses that he can dispose of.

Even without us, the king can win.

His face came closer and the scar at the base of my stomach aches again. This time I succeed in making it seem like I wasn't bothered by it. That I wasn’t bothered by him. My heart thinks otherwise though since it almost felt like it would burst. I almost thought he was going to close the distance between us but he doesn't. In the last few seconds his head veered and I felt his breathe by my ears.

"I would be careful, if I were you. You wouldn't want anything to happen to Eleanor, right?"

I felt something in me snap.

I grab him by the collar and growl just enough for him to hear.

"Where. Is. She?"

Silas actually chuckled and freed himself from my grip. My palms were still shaking and I wanted to pounce. To snap his neck. I could feel my fangs elongating and my eyes burning. It had been weeks since I last took my suppressants and I knew this was my wolf resurfacing.

"Easy there," Silas mentioned, tilting his head to the side. He ignored my question. "You say you don’t care about her anymore yet you’re the only one who actually looks for her. The other consorts don’t seem bothered that she’s not here. Only you.”

I growl loudly, I aim towards him again but he sidesteps me, removing himself from my area of reach. He laughs. “Relax. One dead body in the palace is already enough."

I frown, confused.

But then Silas leaves.

And the minute dawn arrives, the screams does too. I open my eyes and squint from the sunlight coming from my window, I don’t recall leaving it open. I don’t dwell it on much though because the screams became louder, and the amount of shuffling feet were loud enough that I felt like the whole palace was experiencing an earthquake.

I force myself up and go towards the window overlooking the maze, my mind still hazy. Yawning, I look down. I don’t see it right away, my focus was still on the people running to and from the house. I could see Karina, tears running down her face, she was shaking. My mind still not waking up, I frown confused.

Why was she crying?

Then I see it. And my body goes on high alert. I see the trail of blood first, as if he was pulled haphazardly, then I see his torso, how bloody it was. I wanted to scream but I stop myself. My right hand automatically encircling my neck. I wanted to feel my pulse, a reminder that I was still alive. That the servant below could have been me.

And then I find out the reason as to why they were screaming. It was his arms, or lack thereof. His arms were missing, mangled, like it was ripped from his body. It probably was.

Silas was right. If I weren’t a consort, would that have been me?