Page 31 of The Wolf and the Chimera
When we made a left where we should have made a rightto go to the dining hall, Ryder and I hesitated. Kieran sighed.
“Dad likes to have private family dinners most nights,” he explained. He gestured toward the door in front of us. “So, we usually eat in the Sovereign’s dining room.”
Ryder grunted. This was clearly another formality that separated his pack from Lyall’s. Kieran opened the door, and we walked into a quaint but opulent room. A mahogany table occupied most of the space, and the rich, brown wood paired nicely with the olive-green walls. Platters of ham, turkey, roast, vegetables, and salad awaited us. The rich scents made my stomach growl.
A mural spanned across the arched ceiling. It depicted an array of wolves, small and large, old and young, in familiar, soft brush strokes and vibrant colors.
“Did you paint this?” I asked Kalli.
She sat at the seat beside the head of the table wearing a velvet blue top and holding a half-empty glass of white wine. She smiled sleepily.
“Yes,” she answered. “I’m not allowed—tradition prevents me from painting most of the white walls in this place, but because this is our private dining room, I personalized it a bit.”
I didn’t miss her initial statement.
I’m not allowed.
“It’s beautiful,” I said, though my mind turned over her words.
I considered the role of the Sovereign’s mate. Though wolves claimed their female counterparts to be their equals, it struck me that no one ever referred to Kalli as the Sovereign. The feminist in me recoiled at the fact that I had never considered it.
Regardless of titles, Lyall wasn’t disallowed from anything. It didn’t feel right that Kalli didn’t receive the same treatment. Her paintings hung on the walls of the estate, but none of them were permanent. All of them could be easily taken down and replaced. As I studied Ryder’s mother, pityfilled my chest, despite how I judged her for her treatment of her eldest son. No one should feel replaceable in their own home.
Behind me, the door swung open, and Lyall rushed into the room. Kalli took another gulp of wine.
“Sorry for being late,” Lyall said and planted a kiss on Kalli’s cheek, and she smiled. “Got caught up with a few things.”
Considering how happy Kalli was to see her mate, I wondered if I had blown the dynamics of their relationship out of proportion.
Lyall moved to the seat at the head of the table and gestured for us to sit. Ryder and I took the chairs opposite Kalli and Kieran. Lyall didn’t sit until after we had, and I wondered if it was yet another wolfish power play.
Food was passed along the table, and it reminded me of dinners with my parents. The only thing missing was the easy flow of conversation, which had usually involved a great deal of tomfoolery between me and Dad and reluctant smiles from Mom.
When wine was passed around, Ryder held the bottle to my glass.
“Want some?” he asked.
I shook my head, and Lyall guffawed.
“It’s imported from France,” he argued. “You simply must try it, Elle.”
“I’m its biggest fan,” Kalli agreed.
Though their insistence grated my nerves, I smiled politely at Ryder and shrugged. His amber eyes burned.
“She doesn’t have to drink it,” Kieran protested quietly.
“I’m not trying to get the girl drunk!” Lyall argued. “I’m just simply wishing to share the greatest luxury my home has to offer.”
“Really?” Ryder said. “Wineis your greatest luxury?”
“Do they not teach you what hyperboles are in your pack?” Lyall shot back.
Before Ryder could say something foolish, I interjected.
“I’ll try it,” I said.
Now was not the time to test Lyall’s patience. Ryder had already opposed his will once today, and he didn’t need to do it again, especially not over something as silly as trying a sip of expensive wine. Ryder poured a minuscule amount into my glass and planted the bottle on the table with a loud thump.
