Page 61 of Alpha's Hated Mate

“Mrs. Eleanor is the Head of Staff here. She practically raised me since I was a whelp.”

“You’re too kind, my lord.” She shakes her head with a smile. “Will the Dowager Luna and Lady Vaultmore be returning soon?”

“Not yet. My mother remains at the academy, sorting out my sister’s . . . situation.”

The way she nods sadly suggests that Mrs. Eleanor knows exactly what that situation entails. “Your bags will be taken to your quarters.”

As if summoned by her words, a suited butler appears, collecting our luggage without a word.

A line of staff flank both sides of the stone stairs leading to the main entrance, bowing to Aydan with practiced reverence. Their eyes slide to me—some curious, others wary—until Mrs. Eleanor clears her throat with a pointed “Ahem.”

Their gazes drop immediately, but it’s too late. I’m an oddity here—quite possibly the first Scarlet wolf some have ever seen.

We follow Mrs. Eleanor into the mansion, footsteps echoing against marble floors and vaulted ceilings adorned with crystal chandeliers. Portraits of stern-faced Vaultmores line the walls, their eyes seeming to follow me as we pass.

As we walk by, whispers flutter between the household staff like leaves in the wind.

“ . . . a Scarlet . . . ”

“ . . . his father would never . . . ”

“ . . . can’t possibly be of royal blood . . . ”

I glance at Aydan, but he seems oblivious to the murmurs. My wolf hearing must be more in-tune with Scarlet insults than his.

Mrs. Eleanor leads us down a wing of the house adorned with tapestries depicting hunt scenes and battles. “The council members have already arrived and are gathered in the main hall. Dinner will be served in an hour.”

She stops at a set of large immaculately carved wooden double doors.

“The council is eager to meet with you both. Though I should warn you, some of them are quite vocal about . . . ” She glances at me quickly. “ . . . certain matters.”

“I’m sure they are,” Aydan mutters under his breath.

Her expression softens momentarily when she glances at me and back at Aydan. “Dinner is at seven sharp. I’ll leave you both to freshen up.”

She bows slightly and disappears down the hallway, leaving us alone at the threshold of Aydan’s quarters.

“Well,” I murmur once we’re alone in his quarters, “that was only moderately terrifying.”

Aydan chuckles. “I told you so.”

“Yeah, yeah. This is exactly what I expected.” I examine the enormous bedroom. “At least your family has good taste.”

“Saffron, if you want to skip dinner with the council—”

“Nope, I can handle this.” I unzip my suitcase with more force than necessary. “Trust me, I’ve been through worse in my life.”

“You shouldn’t have to.”

“Neither should you. Yet here we are.” I pull out the pale pink dress I packed for tonight—the nicest one I own—and smirk at him. “Ready to face the firing squad?”

Chapter Twenty-Five—Saffron

An hour after arriving at Aydan’s mega-mansion, we’re following a butler to another set of ornate double doors. When the doors swing open, I almost gasp. The dining hall is massive, with a twenty-foot vaulted ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the darkening mountains outside. An enormous crystal chandelier drips with hundreds of twinkling lights above a table that could easily seat thirty people. Tonight, it holds twelve—all members of the Vaultmore Pack Council, their eyes snapping to us as we enter.

The temperature seems to drop ten degrees when they spot me. Conversations halt mid-sentence, goblets freeze halfway to mouths, and twelve pairs of eyes—ranging from curious to openly hostile—assess every inch of me. Everyone suddenly stands for their Alpha.

Aydan’s hand finds the small of my back, a gentle pressure that steadies me as he guides me toward two empty chairs at the head of the massive oak table. I keep my chin high, refusing to shrink under their scrutiny.

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