The Lycan Series
The Lycan King’s Breeder Chapter 31

Avalyn's

POV

The large formal dining hall was decorated in red and black. A band was playing soft music in the background, and at the very end of the room, a beautiful fireplace made the whole space warm and welcoming. It was so beautiful and well-decorated. I couldn't help but feel awed at the marble tiles that covered the floor of the large room.

The room was crowded with guests already by the time we arrived, men in suits and women in evening dresses. They scattered around, socializing in small groups. Dawn was right -I didn't overdress.

Servers were busy laying down trays of food placed in delicate dishes on the dining table. I couldn't stop admiring everything, for all the dinner parties I had ever attended in the past, I was the one busy serving the guests, and never had the leisure of actually enjoying the event.

"Cassie!" I heard Greg's voice call out to someone in the small gathering of people right in front of us.

A beautiful brunette woman turned around to face us. When she made eye contact with Greg, she excused herself from the group and walked over to us, giving Greg a quick kiss on the lips. I turned to look at Dawn who had a disgusted look on her face. "E*! Cut it out, they're kids here," she said, exaggeratedly hurling her hands like she was about to puke.

"Oh shut up, Dawn," the woman -Cassie- said with a playful eye roll. Then she turned to me, "And you must be Avalyn. Goddess! You're so beautiful."

"Uhm, thanks?" I could feel a blush creep up on my cheeks and I stammered out my gratitude.

"See! I told you she'd agree!" Dawn yelled, drawing attention to us as a few people turned around to stare at us. "Please tell Avalyn how beautiful she is, so she'll finally get it into her head."

Cassie let out a small laugh as she walked over to engulf me in a tight hug, surprising me. "Leave the girl alone, Dawn. Avalyn you're so beautiful, I've heard a lot about how beautiful you are, but finally being able to see such beauty for myself is far better," she said to me, offering a sweet smile.

I gave her one in return as I nodded. "Thank you, Cassie."

"Oh silly me. I didn't introduce myself, did I? I'm Greg's mate, Cassie," she said, even though I really knew who she was.

"Why don't we go take our seats, hmm?" Greg suggested as he began to lead us to the main table.

I noticed how people's eyes were on us, but I tried my best to pay them no mind.

"Alpha! We're here with Miss Avalyn." Greg announced as he brought us to Talon.

Talon's brown eyes locked on me. I saw surprise in them, but after that flicker, I couldn't discern any other emotion.

Was he not pleased with how I looked?

"Alpha..." I said softly. Then noticing Willow and the others seated at the table, I bowed my head to him quickly and then did likewise to Willow and Alpha Tristan next to him.

"Oh my, don't you look stunning," Monty said, stepping forward with a smile. "Absolutely stunning."

His words were complimentary, but I was still very uncomfortable being around a group of people I didn't know.

"Join us," Talon said, and held out his hand.

I looked at Dawn and Greg, and they both smiled, giving me the nudge I needed to accept the offer. My hand slid into his.

This was the first time I had felt his hand in mine, his palm was warm and hard, and immediately he held mine tight, and my nervousness about being around Alpha Tristan faded away. But as soon as I was about to take my seat, I felt the ice-cold glare of Willow as we locked eyes.

While still keeping myself composed, I quickly retracted my hand from Talon's and took my seat next to Dawn. Monty walked around to take the seat to my left, offering me a small smirk as he sat down.

I placed my hands on my lap and waited patiently until the others took their seat. Greg took the next seat on Talon's right, along with Cassie, then Dawn, then me, and Monty. While Willow took the next seat on Talon's left, along with Lydia, Tristan, and some other members from the Moonstone pack.

"Alpha Talon, thank you again for your hospitality. We very much enjoyed our stay here. I look forward to working together with you," Tristan said raising his glass. "Cheers!" "My pleasure," Talon replied, nodding his head.

I watched as Tristan's eyes turned toward me. "I am glad you can join us, Miss Avalyn." His words seemed polite, but I just couldn't shrug off the unsettling feeling he gave me.

As we settled in and the food began to be served, I started to feel trapped in a social situation in which I did not belong.

"I have to admit, Talon -my bad, Alpha Talon- your pack is quite lovely," Monty said after a moment of silence. There was a hint of mockery in his voice and I could tell Talon heard it too.

I looked up at him in disbelief. Had he meant to do that on purpose? Wasn't he scared of Talon?

I could see Willow reach out towards Talon and brush her fingers across his wrist softly. Maybe to calm him down?

"Thank you. I've been trying to keep up with the changing time." Talon replied, with no hint of anger or aggression in his voice. He surely was hiding it well. If my memory served me right, Talon had spoken more words tonight than in all the time that I had ever been with him added up. Monty chuckled at what Talon said before his gaze slid over to me again. "So, Avalyn. How did you manage to find yourself in the Southern Ridge pack?"

His question caught me completely off guard. But remembering Willow's and Talon's instruction of how I wasn't supposed to let anyone know why I was there, I smiled politely at him.

"I was... saved by Alpha Talon. He and the Luna have been kind enough to allow me to stay in their pack until I'm well enough to leave," I said, but then remembering the maid story we had told earlier, I quickly added, "so I've been rendering my services around the palace... as a way to show my gratitude to them."

Willow tilted her head. Although I couldn't tell whether she was happy with my response or not, I knew she was listening.

Then I looked at Lydia, whose eyes met mine, and a small smile formed across my lips as she gently nodded her head in approval of what I had said.

"So, you have plans then, for when you leave?" This time it was Tristan who asked.

I stopped eating my food and turned to look at him. "Uhm- yeah I guess I do... I hope to travel around the world one day. There is so much of the world I wish to see -but of course, that will be with permission from Alpha Talon."

I looked toward Talon, and when I spotted no negative reaction from him, I continued, "I really love to read, and my books give me ideas of places yet to be explored. One day, I hope to be able to see those things for real. There is still so much I know little of..." I trailed off when I noticed that everyone had gone silent, and all their attention was on me.

A cold feeling made me turn my head and looked right into Talon's piercing brown eyes. There was something in his gaze that made me flinch.

"...but of course, that will be with permission from the Alpha." I quickly repeated. My eyes shot toward Dawn and Greg whom both smiled, seemingly pleased with what I had said.

"Wow! That's very interesting," Monty said, sipping his drink. "I've never known a book to make me want to visit somewhere. Maybe when we're done you could show me some of the kinds you're into at the library."

"Oh... uhm..." I tried to come up with an excuse, but of course, my brain chose that moment to not function.

"Avalyn will be quite busy after dinner tonight." Willow's soft voice drawled out, sending a cold chill down my spine. "Won't you, Avalyn?"

She tilted her head to the side and cocked an eyebrow at me, swirling the red liquid in her glass as she rocked her hand back and forth.

There was something about the way her blue eyes held eye contact with mine, which made my alarm bells go off. There was an underlying threat to her words, it brought back the memories of that fateful night she had buried the seed of dread into my body. This was a threat directed at me, it was clear she didn't want me hanging around Monty.

"Y-Yes... I'll be very busy..." I stammered out to Monty, offering him a small apologetic smile.

I noticed the look of dejection on Monty's face, and I felt a tinge of guilt at having caused it, but I definitely didn't want to do anything to anger Willow.