17

G E O R G I E

✿

The canteen was packed. Chatty and hungry werewolves and gis sat at the long tables and ate the dinner.

Blair and I made our way to the mighty overloaded buffet table in the center of the dining room and joined the long line.

"I don't know what to say," Blair said, grabbing a tray.

I shrugged, placing forks and knives first on her then on my tray. "There's not much to say."

She pulled the napkins from the holder. "Well, I mean... Beau! Who would have thought?"

“Sshh! Not so loud!' I admonished her in a whisper and took the serviette that she handed me. "You can't tell anyone, okay? That's popular among us."

One hand on her breast, the other raised, she swore, "I'll be as silent as the grave." Then, moving in line, she whispered, eyes sparkling, "But, Oh... My... God! Beau and you... Your...” she squeaked.

Of course I ended up telling Blair everything about Beau and me. Including the bitter fact that he had rejected me as a mate.

I scoop up some delicious-looking mashed potatoes and slap the portion onto my plate. "It's not nearly as magical as you make it out to be."

She poured a second portion of the meat sauce over her meal. She loved it when everything swam in it. "It'll be fine," she mumbled, having already swiped a meatball off her plate.

With a splash, I put the ladle back into the saucepan. "Oh yes? And who are you? The almighty fortune teller who, by chance, can also see into the future? Don't you need your bullet for that?"

“Haha, very funny, Miss. Today I am extraordinarily cynical. Just enjoy yourself. But I just know.”

"If you say so."

“You are a smart, strong young woman. Which also looks damn good. All the boys in our class fancy you.”

"You're right." I grinned. "But not Tim."

Her cheeks immediately turned red.

"Hey!" I said as she stuffed a second ball into her mouth. But this time from my plate. 'Let that be nice. Or there will be war.”

"Guys, get moving or I'll overtake!" someone behind us complained.

Blair opened the door, loading more onto his plate as he passed. "What I meant to say is, how could anyone resist you?"

I filled my goblet with mead. "One sure can."

Blair held out her goblet and I poured some of the yellowish, sweet liquid into hers as well. "Then let your charm play."

Easier said than done when your mate is spoiling every situation that comes your way. We made our way through the benches and sat down at our regulars' table. I smiled when I saw Isaac and sat down across from him.

“Hey, I heard what happened. Are you all right?” Isaac asked worriedly.

I managed a smile and stabbed at the meatball as if it might be to blame for my bad mood. "Logical."

Tiam, sitting next to Isaac, slapped the back of his head. “Full Post. As soon as she sits down, you ask her about the shittiest morning ever.”

Isaac spread his arms. "What then? I just wanted to make sure she was okay!'

Tiam laughed and shook his head.

"What?" Isaac looked at me. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, it's okay," I assured him, then popped a large forkful of mashed potatoes and meat sauce into my mouth.

"You did something wrong, turnip," said Tiam, then drained his goblet.

Isaac threw his fries at Tiam, who almost choked on it, laughing. "Zip your lips."

Hawkings, standing on a bench in the middle of the pack, banged a spoon against the goblet and demanded silence. "Good evening everyone! As some of you have already noticed, there was a pirate attack today.”

Murmurs broke out.

"What?!"

“Pirates! How is that possible?"

"Silence!" Hawkings yelled, then cleared his throat. 'There's nothing to worry about, nothing else happened. Thanks to Blair and Georgie, the two intruders didn't get far and were brought to justice."

Everyone banged on the tables with their fists, making the crockery on the plate jingle and bump against each other. We were applauded and patted on the back. Feet were stamped into the ground. It felt like we were experiencing an earthquake.

“But, with the pirate attack comes the possibility that they might come back. And they will - guaranteed. So you all have to be very careful. No minors leave the packhouse alone anymore. Besides, the secrecy of our healer werewolves has never been more important than ever,” Hawkings announced. “So our security units need to be strengthened. Since the battle against Serdas cost us many warriors and soldiers, we now need to stock up. This means that the training time of our prospective soldiers is reduced. The exam will take place in a week.”

"I'm sorry, what?!"

“Yeah! How awesome is that!”

"That's unfair!"

"Don't fuss, please! You will find out all further information about the exam and the training tomorrow. And now, enjoy the evening. Zeris atek Zeris!” Hawkings cried out the oath of war, whereupon everyone joined in his shout. Everyone except me.

Instead, I stared at my food in front of me. How am I supposed to pass the exam now? Hawkings had given me a round of applause for no reason. I had done absolutely nothing. I hadn't protected the pack or myself. And neither had Blair. It was like back then. My hand was shaking and I tightened my grip on the fork.

I'd felt so helpless when his dagger ran across my cheek.

And he whispered that name. Deathbringer.

No matter how much I kept reminding myself that no one, not even a god of the underworld, could rise from the dead, fear crept into my limbs, crept up my bones.

Deathbringer. It sounded like a monster. A monster that attacked healer werewolves. And just such a monster I had once known. And learned to fear.

Hades.

His name left a stale taste in my mouth. A tear ran down my cheek and dripped into my cup. Small waves sloshed back and forth. I quickly wiped the trail of tears from my cheek and checked to see if anyone had noticed. But everyone was busy discussing excitedly about the exam.

“Oh why are you so upset, we'll pass it anyway. And now we can finally join unit earlier,” said Isaac, a little smugly.

I poked at my food listlessly as their conversation passed me like a transparent pane separating me. I would fail, and then the promise that the broken girl had made of her last scraped courage would be broken. Hades would have won after all.

"You're not eating anything." Isaac snapped me out of my gloom.

I watched the meatball rolling across my plate come to a halt. "No appetite."

“Hey, I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't want to remind you unnecessarily. It's just that…” Isaac ruffled his hair, a little embarrassed. 'I should have been there. I should have helped you."

"No, Isaac, what are you talking about?" I smiled and felt warm. I was lucky to have such good friends. "You had no way of knowing what Blair and I would expect."

'Yes, we knew it must be dangerous on the coast if this area is cordoned off. I knew you had to run extra miles. I should have followed you I would have-"

I let go of the fork and put my hand over Isaac's to stop his rapid flow of words. 'You would have nothing. Sweet that you're worried about me,' I continued, noticing his eyes darting to a point behind me. Undeterred, I continued, "But this morning isn't your fault, and you couldn't have done anything about it. And it's not like we couldn't take care of them.” I laughed, but Isaac still wasn't looking at me or making any of his usual comments. Am I talking to a wall here or what? "Isaac! are you even listening to me?”

"No he doesn't, I'm afraid I have to disappoint you there," said a deep, throaty voice, sending goosebumps down my spine. Then his arms were beside me, encircling me as he leaned over me from behind and braced himself on the edge of the table.

My breath caught. "Beau."

'Told you I'd come get you. Here I am."

Oh yeah. And if he was here. He was so from around here. My body sent a series of heat waves through my limbs and my hormones went on a roller coaster.

"Next time I'll be there if you need help," Isaac said, catching Beau's attention.

"It won't be necessary," Beau said quietly. "Now get your paws off her."

Reluctantly and with a scathing expression, Isaac pulled his hand away but made sure to squeeze mine first. Which did not go unnoticed.

I reached for my goblet and took a sip. Oh god, that was embarrassing. A big scene in the canteen that every pack member will talk about was definitely the last thing I wanted.

Beau bent lower and stared at Isaac. 'You're playing a Dangerous Game, boy. And you're playing it with the wrong guy."

I almost choked on the mead and coughed. “Oookay, didn't you say we had to go? yes we have to go We're going now.” When Beau still didn't look like 10 horses would be able to drag him from here, I impulsively put my hand on his forearm. The curious pairs of eyes from everyone else at the table burned my back.

“Beau, let's go now. Please."

He kept up the eye-duel for a while and I was beginning to fear he wouldn't leave before Isaac caved in, but then, to my surprise, he jerked away from the tabletop. "Good. We go."