"Yes," he returned his attention to Damien. "Now, vampires," he continued, "Are you insane? Vampires are.."
"She's a friend," Harlan said. "She has done nothing but help out.."
"I can live with her," he looked at me with distaste. "But a vampire?"
Damien had to hold Harlan back from snapping his head off as I stared at him, trying to understand why he was being such an asshole to me.
Selene stepped up. "Silas, you better behave or I swear to the Goddess I will kick you out of my house." She stood up for me.
"You're no better than she is. Shouldn't you go back to pick up the ashes of your own pack? Why are you still here trying to lead this one?"
This time Damien simply let go of Harlan as he stepped forward and put Selene behind him.
"Leave," was all Damien said, shaking, trying his best not to punch him, not to cause a scene. Because from afar, we looked like people who were having a serious discussion. I knew the situation between packs was delicate and seeing the divide would cause tension.
"You know it's true," he said. "You mate with a South American wolf and Harlan mates with a human," he scoffed. "You're a disappointment to our family.."
"Leave," Damien interrupted him again. "You better leave for your own sake or I will have Blaze and Elowen kick you out."
Selene was looking down, trying her best not to cry, and I was so used to being disregarded I was just angry. Although I had never been treated like this because of my humanity.. or former humanity for that matter.
"Everything okay?" Violette said, walking over with a glass of wine.
And just like that, without warning, Silas made to lunge at her but was stopped by a single hand on his chest. Damien's.
He pushed against it harder and harder while Damien just looked at him, bored.
"I gave you an order," he said with eerie calm. But he wouldn't budge, and it wasn't until Damien's eyes glowed red that he suddenly, like in a trance, stopped.
"Leave," he said, and the man started walking toward the door and disappeared.
Violette took one look at Damien and walked the other way. Smart.
I had so many questions, but Damien took Selene's hand and guided her away from the party and into his study.
I looked at Harlan. "What was that?"
"The alpha's innate ability," he said, still trying to calm down. "It's a sort of command that no one, except other alphas, can refuse."
"But isn't Silas an alpha?" He smiled.
"Yes, but that is what makes Damien special," he started. "My father used to kill every other alpha. He had to fight them to prove he was stronger. Damien is the first alpha in history to be able to do that. He's a pure alpha."
I nodded, finally understanding why everyone I've ever met refused to make eye contact with Damien. They were too afraid.
"Well, that was a lovely start to our engagement party," I said with a smile, and Harlan laughed, hugging me from behind.
I looked at the door and realized I had one more doubt. "Why was he such an asshole to Selene anyway?"
Harlan looked down and separated. "It's an old rivalry pack thing," he tried to leave it there.
"But isn't she from this pack?" I asked, maybe pushing a bit too much.
"No," he sighed. "She was born to Argentinian parents, who later sold her, on South American pack territory," he started. "The pack disintegrated, collapsed from within, and now there are at least more than fifty packs in its place."
I couldn't believe I had no idea. I suppose I never asked what her maiden name was.. so much new information. I wondered how much more I didn't know when it came to my own friends.
There was a lot of dancing, drinking, cursing, and eventually fighting. So, they had a great time. And surprisingly, so did I.
I enjoyed meeting my mate's friends and listening to their stories. I mostly enjoyed seeing how happy this made Harlan and also loved the fact that people were so happy to welcome me into their pack. Is that normal amongst werewolves?
I loved the fact that I would have so much time to find out.