Their laughter was short-lived, however, as Akita walked into the sitting room, her face still bearing the remnants of last night's anger. She still couldn't bring herself to believe that Eloise flouted her orders.
Eloise's smile faltered, and she greeted her hesitantly. "Good morning, Mother."
Akita barely acknowledged him, her glare lingering before she turned and walked away.
"Don't worry, she'll come around," Jade said softly, placing a reassuring hand on Eloise's back.
*
"I have a letter to read. Can you excuse me?" Atlas said curtly, dismissing his mother's question.
"Oh, you think you can just shut up and ignore me? Did you find anyone? Did you find a bride?" she half-yelled, her voice rising in frustration.
Atlas ignored her, his eyes scanning the contents of the letter he had just received.
"I'm not someone to mess with, hope you know that, Atlas. Of course, you do, you've known me for so long. If you failed to find a bride, I found someone, and I'll get you married to her if..."
"Shut up!" Atlas cut her off, his face darkening as he read the letter.
"What?" Yutani asked, surprised by the worried look that flashed across her son's face, an expression she rarely saw.
In an instant, a smile spread across his face, and he began laughing, the sound echoing through the room.
Yutani snatched the letter from him, her brows arching as she read the contents. "Have you a problem with your brain? This isn't amusing," she scolded, throwing the letter back at him.
"You've finally succeeded in ravaging my hard work," she spat, her voice low and venomous.
"Alpha Jared can be so amusing at times. Why's he going overboard just because of a she-wolf?" Atlas sneered, his laughter dying down.
"Atlas, she wasn't just a she-wolf, she was his mate. You killed his mate, you stupid being," Yutani cursed, her anger boiling over. "You better start thinking of what to do, because I won't let you destroy this pack with your stupidity. Think, and think fast."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Atlas alone in deep thought.
For once, he realized his mother was right. He needed to think fast, as Jared had promised to attack him after the first appearance of the full moon in respect of his dead mate.
An idea popped into his head, and he smirked, a plan beginning to form.
*
"No, Romona, no!" Akita's voice pierced the air as she screamed at her husband, their bedroom echoing with the intensity of their argument.
The letter from the Alpha had ignited a firestorm, and tensions were running high.
Romona, a seasoned gardener in the Packhouse, stood firm despite his advanced age, refusing to retire as it was the family's lifeline.
Eloise's modest earnings barely covered a week's worth of expenses, and in their pack, women were forbidden from working or earning money, except as servants.
"Akita, you heard me. Who else will represent our family? Is it me?" Romona's words cut deep, leaving Akita momentarily speechless.
"Romona, I understand you can't go, but you know Eloise's situation. What if she gets caught?" Akita's voice cracked as tears streamed down her face.
"Akita, everyone thinks Eloise is a boy. You stopping her from doing this will only raise suspicions," Romona said, his words a bitter truth that made Akita sob uncontrollably.
She was determined not to let Yutani get her hands on Eloise, no matter what. But it's like her efforts were beginning to fail.
*
Eloise's eyebrows shot up as she listened to her father's words.
"Alpha Jared has gathered allies from other packs, and they're planning to attack our pack at the rise of the full moon," Romona informed, his expression grave.
"Alpha Atlas doesn't have good relationships with other Alphas, so he can't rally any allies. But that doesn't mean we'll just sit back and watch our pack get destroyed. We have to fight. Every family with a male child is expected to volunteer at least one to join the soldiers and bolster our troops." Romona's words hung in the air like a challenge.
Eloise's eyes widened in horror as she processed the information. "Father, it's impossible for me to join the soldiers. I'm not a boy, remember?" she reminded them, hoping they'd forgotten.
"Eloise, you've been enjoying the privileges of being a man. You can't decline the responsibilities. If you want to be a man, be a complete one," Romona scolded, his voice firm. "Get your things ready. You'll be leaving for the Packhouse tomorrow morning."
"Mother!" Eloise's scream was a desperate plea. "What if I die in the war?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Only those who pass the training get to go to war. If you don't measure up, you'll return home," Akita said, trying to reassure her daughter, though she was scared for different reasons.
*
It was very early in the morning, and Romona was heading back to work, and he was taking Eloise with him, thus they could both ride on the same horse.
When Romona was bidding farewell to his wife and daughters, Eloise noticed Jade's tears, and she prayed for her not to be selected.
Alberta, usually cold and distant, surprisingly showed concern for Eloise, her expression softening for a moment.
"You're timid, not qualified to be a man, let alone a soldier," Alberta said, her words cutting.
As the oldest and coldest sibling, Alberta's beauty was often overshadowed by her stern demeanor.
Akita didn't fail to remind Eloise to remember to cut her hair and always take the power potion before leaving.
Ace, Eloise's close friend, wouldn't be joining the soldiers. His older brother would represent their family instead.
Eloise often relied on Ace for support, as other lads despised her due to their girlfriends' admiration for Eloise. With a heavy heart, Eloise prayed for a better outcome.
Upon arriving at the Packhouse hours before the agreed time, Eloise helped her father and explored the grand environment . She silently wished for a positive turn of events, fearing for her life in this unfamiliar place.
*
Alpha Atlas sat in his study, the sound of training soldiers and horses signaling the arrival of volunteers carrying on the wind.
He knew adding more men wouldn't change the outcome, but he wanted to project a more powerful image.
The battle was his to fight, and he wasn't relying on his troops. His mother however, continued to blame him for the pack's supposed downfall, but Atlas knew he had to focus on eliminating Jared, who dared to challenge him.
He made his way to join the troops and address them. As he walked onto the field, his coat swept the ground, and his presence commanded attention.
The men shivered at the sight of him, their chatter ceasing as they remembered why they were there.
Atlas's gaze swept across the volunteers, his eyes locking onto a familiar figure standing at the front – the lad who looked more like a lass, the one who could see him.
"Long live the Alpha," the volunteers bowed in respect, but Atlas's glare remained intense, his anger simmering just below the surface.
He signaled Grimsby to proceed, and he immediately did, barking orders, instructing the volunteers to form a proper line.
As they hastily obeyed, Atlas's eyes remained fixed on the boy, his interest piqued.