Chapter 53: Streak of rebellion

Alyssa flinched, instinctively reaching out to grab Pandora’s hand. For one brief second, she thought Dorian had returned, but the older man who stepped through the foyer into the dining hall was an entirely different breed of danger.

He leaned heavily on a gold-plated cane, stopping halfway across the room to stare at them. The moment his eyes fell on Alyssa, they hardened with raw contempt.

Alyssa frowned, instantly repulsed by the aura this man brought into the room. He was enormous, as tall as Dorian, with tailored black clothes stretching across the massive expanse of his shoulders.

His full head of silver-white hair framed piercing black eyes that struck a terror into her heart with a single glance.

Beside her, Pandora lowered her head, cowering away from his gaze.

"Where is Dorian?" the man thundered in a booming voice.

Alyssa recoiled from the volume, while Pandora cleared her dry throat before answering.

"He isn’t back from his run yet, Uncle Conri. He should be on his way..."

"I heard he got married last night," Conri continued, cutting her off without a shred of warmth. "Has my nephew lost all respect for me that he now makes decisions in my absence?"

"Uncle Conri," Pandora tried again. "I’m sure he–"

"Where is the girl he married?" Conri snarled, his eyes flicking over to Alyssa for a second before snapping back to Pandora.

Alyssa could feel the panic radiating off Pandora. It shocked her; Pandora was usually unshakable, yet she was trembling in the presence of this man.

Her own heart raced, but beneath the terror, that familiar, stubborn streak of rebellion surged to the surface, fierce and fearless.

Lifting her chin, she spoke before Pandora could answer.

"I am Dorian’s wife," she said, her voice remarkably steady. "If he didn’t invite you to our wedding, then he clearly didn’t want you there."

Conri’s face twisted into a deep scowl. He moved with predatory grace, his cane thumping sharply against the floor as he advanced on her.

He clearly expected her to drop her gaze and cower backward the way his family usually did, but she defied him, locking her eyes onto his until he towered directly over her.

"Little girl," he snarled viciously. "A creature like you is a nameless stranger in this house. Learn your place."

"That is Luna Alyssa to you, Mr. Conri," she retorted sharply, refusing to back down despite having to tilt her head to meet his gaze. "I don’t know what relation you have with my husband, the King. But you will address me with respect."

Conri drew back, his scowl cracking open to reveal the absolute wrath beneath. Beside her, Pandora choked back a gasp, terrified of the violence about to unfold.

Conri suddenly raised his hand, the signet ring on his finger catching the light of the chandelier. But just as he brought it down toward her face, a sharp, icy female voice cut through the room from the entryway.

"Control yourself, honey. Lower your hand."

Alyssa looked past him, taking in the sharp, angular features of the elegant woman walking into the dining section. Her dark hair was pulled into a tight bun, and her brown eyes were completely devoid of warmth as they swept over Alyssa.

She stepped up to Conri, calmly pressing his raised arm down.

"The girl is obviously ignorant of the Northern customs," she continued, her tone dripping with mockery. "But you can’t touch her, unless you want to trigger a blood feud with your own nephew."

Conri straightened his posture, instantly smoothing his expression back into a mask of cold indifference. Without another word to either of them, he turned on his heel and walked out toward the living room.

The woman remained behind for a moment, her eyes mapping Alyssa’s features with a mocking smile. Then she looked at Pandora.

"The moment Dorian returns, inform him of our arrival."

"I will, Lady Beth," Pandora nodded sharply.

Bethany turned and glided away, following her husband’s path. The moment she was gone, Pandora let out a ragged breath and sank back into her chair.

"I swear, Alyssa. Sometimes your boldness amazes me," she said, letting out a shaky laugh.

"Who are they?" Alyssa asked, finally lowering herself back onto her seat. "Why did the guards just let them walk in?"

Pandora grabbed a glass of water, downing it to soothe her parched throat. "That is my Uncle Conri Lowell and his mate, Bethany. He is my late mother’s eldest brother, and the oldest living member of both the Hellborne and Lowell bloodlines. He is two hundred and ninety years old."

Alyssa’s eyes widened. "I just talked back to a man who is nearly three hundred years old?"

"That’s why I said your boldness amazes me," Pandora chuckled. "Uncle Conri and his wife completely terrify me. They have this intimidating aura around them."

"I felt it too," Alyssa murmured, glancing toward the empty foyer. "So they are Joffrey’s parents?"

"Yes. Joffrey, Serena, and Jenny’s parents. My cousins."

"Why are they here?"

"Because the news of your wedding is going to cause a massive rift," Pandora explained, her expression turning dead serious. "They expected Dorian to marry Samantha, and they don’t know you. So even while Dorian is the Alpha King, his decisions can still be frowned upon. Expect more families to arrive by nightfall."

Alyssa looked down at her plate, the breakfast completely ruined. A deep ache of exhaustion settled over her, and she longed for Dorian.

"You need to eat," Pandora urged gently. "You will be formally introduced to the rest of the family today as Luna Queen. You are going to need every ounce of strength you have, because they will try to break you."

"I’m not hungry anymore," Alyssa whispered, pushing the plate away.

Before Pandora could reply, the sharp, rhythmic click of heels echoed from the hallway, killing the silence.

Alyssa stiffened as Bethany stepped back into the dining hall, her sharp brown eyes locked onto her prey.

"You," she said, her voice ringing out with cold authority as she stopped at the edge of the table. "What is your name, girl?"

Alyssa straightened her spine, keeping her voice level. "Alyssa."

"Stand up when you answer me!" Bethany snapped, her eyes flashing dangerously. "Show some proper respect."

Alyssa’s gaze hardened. "Perhaps you should show some respect to your Luna. My name is Alyssa, not girl."

Bethany’s lips curled into a malicious smile. "Do not get ahead of yourself, Alyssa," she purred, dragging out the syllables of Alyssa’s name until it sounded like a threat. "I may have stopped my husband from hitting you earlier, but that does not mean I am incapable of breaking you myself."

"You wouldn’t dare," Alyssa retorted. She rose slowly to her feet, refusing to let the older woman look down on her.

Pandora quickly stood up, attempting to shield her. "Lady Beth, please, she didn’t mean to imply..."

One glance from Bethany silenced Pandora instantly. She took a slow step toward Alyssa, her aura flaring with dominant pressure.

"You have a crown on your head, so you are drunk on power. But you are nothing to me. I could crush you right now..."

"Put your hands on my wife, Lady Beth, and I will sever your head from your neck!"

Dorian’s voice shattered the tension like a war horn, deep, lethal, and instantly commanding.

He strode into the dining room, his massive frame radiating pure violence, his eyes burning a deep, feral gold.