Alpha’s Hybrid Cinderella
Chapter 19

On something that might have been a lot more than a whim, I brought a small store of banshee weed just in case. I hadn't asked how long we would be staying on Dark Moon territory, but I didn't want Evan to coincidentally have a bad spat of nightmares with no way to deal with them. The recent rains would drown the banshee weed under puddles, making them hard to find, so bringing the ones I'd already picked with me was the only other option.

I'd made the right choice. When we got off the train, the rain had picked up again, and there were new ponds everywhere along the rolling terrain that would have made herb-picking impossible.

There was also an entire crowd waiting to receive us when we arrived. I was so stunned I didn't know how to react at the enthusiasm everyone greeted us with. Dark Moon territory residents hated humans and hybrids, and yet here they were, hiding it so they could greet Evan and me with deference due to a king.

Of course, it was Evan who was the king. I was just his 'maid.' The rumors must have spread fast and far the day he took me, and there were more than enough werewolves in the estate who'd heard what he called me that day on the platform.

An unfamiliar man stood front and center to greet Evan. He saluted him in full uniform, back straight as a rod and feet shoulder-width apart.

"This is Osborn," Evan told me. "He's the newly appointed Alpha of the Dark Moon pack. Osborn, this is Claudia."

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Claudia."

(I could have introduced myself! Why didn't he let me?)

I ignored the disappointed complaint echoing in his thoughts and shook Osborn's hand. It didn't stop there, though. He concealed it from his expression, but my ability revealed his true inner thoughts once more:

(She's so small! I've never seen anyone full-grown as short as she is.)

I pretended not to hear it. I had plenty of practice ignoring others' comments about my diminutive size, and it was easier with Osborn than those like Flicka and Elly and Maria, at least.

"Have we met before?" I asked him after shaking hands. "Are you from a sister pack? I don't remember you."

"He's from Scarlet pack, Claudia. I entrusted someone from my own side to take over."

(I really wish he would let me talk... I can introduce myself if he would just allow it.)

Goodness. This Osborn was all wound up. But other than being talkative, I sensed an eager leadership capability in him that had never been present in Alpha Kris, who had always been notoriously lazy and irresponsible. Scarlet pack or Dark Moon, it didn't matter: what werewolves needed was a proactive leader, and Osborn would do a much better job than his predecessor. A little talkative in his head, though.

"Osborn and I are going to take care of some things," Evan told me. "Peelle is getting off from the next car. Why don't you show him around until I'm done here? He said he was interested in getting a tour of the place from you."

On cue, Peelle jogged up to us and flashed a grin at me. But the mind-linking thought that crossed his mind was directed privately at Evan, not me. I'll make sure she's safe.

Evan nodded at him, almost imperceptibly.

I pretended not to notice.

***

"This place is backwards as hell," Peelle complained a few hours later after I showed him through the nearest portion of the city. "But Dark Moon still having a slave caste on top of everything else blows my mind. And this zoning! You actually had separate areas where humans and hybrids are allowed to live and nowhere else! So stupid."

“Human s*****y is still the norm here," I reminded him. "Until it's abolished, it'll stay that way."

He shook his head.

I took him next to the medicinal gardens that Evan had also taken over. Rare plants and herbs grew here, protected as valuables. Before, I'd never gotten close enough to see them for myself, so it was the first time seeing some of them for both of us. I was so caught up in my excitement I didn't realize I'd been rambling to him about them until some time later.

"You've been picking up a lot in your herbology courses," Peelle said approvingly instead of teasing. "You chose well. You should enjoy what you do, and you'll do it best that way."

"What about you?" I asked. "You must have studied something in school."

"Ah. We had tutors, Evan and me. Good to get a well-rounded education, you know."

I frowned. "But I heard around that you attended Scarlet University for a year or two, or something like that. You must have considered a major. Or maybe you were even on a specific track already."

He smiled and shrugged, avoiding answering the question as he racked his brain for an excuse.

Unfortunately for him, I could hear every turn of the gears and cogs in his mind. (I can't let her know I was a hospitality major. She'll laugh her ears off when she compared it to what I do now.)

I smiled despite myself. He was wrong. I'd pegged him for a hospitality major already - he had taken great care of me and made me feel right at home from the very first day. Did he not realize how fitting it was? And maybe it wasn't too late, though he was a pack fighter and soldier serving under Evan so loyally. Maybe in the future when it wasn't necessary, and he could pursue what he really wanted...

"You know, Peelle," I said before he could come up with another excuse. "I was thinking you would be a natural if you ever went back to university and enrolled in the hospitality program. I just get that feeling from you."

At his expression, it took all I had to keep from bursting into laughter.

***

I made sure to take a little extra banshee weed from the corner plot before we left at Peelle's assurance that I had full permission to take what I wished. It was strange to think that just weeks ago, I would have been beaten for even asking to come here. But now, I have access to places and their resources that even the highest-ranked Dark Moon didn't.

The notion that I needed to make better use of my new privileges crossed my mind, but I was so overwhelmed and off-kilter by the abrupt change that I shelved it for later consideration. I needed to get used to this first.

"It's getting close to dinnertime," Peelle said as he checked his watch. "The Dark Moon pack estate said they'd have a meal ready for us in about fifteen minutes. We should get going."

I waved my small harvest at him. "Done! We can go anytime."

He grinned at me again, and I smiled back. Peelle was such an enthusiastic person, naturally bright and warm like sunlight, but never patronizing. It was good to see him again after a few days of his absence, and chatting with him had made the hours fly by. Even exploring the city didn't feel so daunting with him by my side, although some passing werewolves shot me unfriendly looks that were too fast for Peelle to catch.

Lucky. He would have made trouble about it, and I just wanted to have a good time.

***

After so long, the pack house had lost all its familiarity for me. Peelle was the one who had to lead me to the dining room, something that both embarrassed me and made me laugh.

Evan was waiting for us when we arrived, and he raised an eyebrow at the smile I gave him. I couldn't wait to tell him about what we'd found at the restricted gardens. Maybe I could even suggest returning every once in a while to check on their progress. I still hated the idea of returning to Dark Moon often, but for the sake of important things...

He motioned for me to sit next to him, and I gladly obliged. All the better to share what Peelle and I had been up to today. I was almost vibrating with anticipation as everyone around us took their seats, including Osborn who directed everyone around the table with short, barking commands. Peelle and I shared a fast look and stifled our laughter at the man's blustering authority. Well, at least he knew how to use it. It was almost adorable, really.

But the atmosphere wouldn't last.

The platters came around the table as the staff arranged the massive dishes down the length of it, and Osborn took advantage of the brief lull to direct a private mind-link thought to Evan. I caught it, of course, unintentionally.

(Should I inform Miss Claudia that her family has been executed?)

Then Evan's cold response, utterly unfeeling:

(No need.)