As I pressed my ear against the cold wall, waiting to hear Damon's voice, I really couldn't understand why I felt a tight knot forming in my stomach.
"You will not speak to me in that manner," Damon's voice thundered from the room, instilling fear in every creature, as his hand slammed on the round table they were sitting at.
The other men, who I presumed to be the advisers and elders, bared their necks in respect. But after Damon drew his power, the man who had spoken before raised his head. His eyes held respect, love, and anger. "You can't always be this arrogant… You remember how your kind has perished, including your…"
"I don't want to hear any more about that!" he growled, his lips pulling back, revealing his long canines.
"Let's face the problem at hand now. You have the fact that the western side of the pack village is suffering from flooding." Damon turned, staring at the man he had been arguing with. "What do you think we should do?" he asked, his voice lowering deadly and cold.
The old man swallowed. "We can dig deeper trenches. It will help to reduce the excessive water," he answered, his voice lowering.
"What happens after it overflows again after a heavy rain?" Damon asked through clenched teeth.
"Maybe we can use sandbags to block the water from flooding into the homes," another man across from Damon suggested.
"But we all have tried that before, and we know it offers limited protection and requires constant maintenance, which is exhausting to do," another interjected.
"Since you know it all, why don't you give a useful solution," the man growled angrily, scrunching his face.
The man who had interjected earlier shifted in his seat, as the attention had now shifted to him. "We can relocate the pups and the elders to dry land so they don't get sick." The rest of the men nodded their heads in agreement.
"But that doesn't solve our problem, except we are going to abandon the land," another said.
The man shifted again, his eyes narrowing in deep thought. "Maybe we can pray to the moon goddess…" his words were cut off by the exhausted groan from the rest of the members.
Damon exhaled deeply. I could see the worry creasing on his cold face—although it was slight, it was there. 'If I can give a solution to their problem, wouldn't I be praised by the people?' I thought inwardly.
'Hell nah, I'm not going to involve myself in anything like that.' As I turned to walk away since the spicy news was already finished, I thought I could listen more about their mate quarrel. I need to look for my other followers.
My step halted again when that treacherous part of me began to give stupid advice. "You're going to leave like that? Why don't you go in there and show those dumb bastards what it means to graduate from Harvard? Don't tell me you're missing this chance… Imagine the love and respect you would get from doing this. You won't just be a pet, but a golden one, one with class and respect!" A shiver went through my body at my thoughts.
I bit my lower lip, my eyes dancing with excitement. I couldn't wait to see the surprise in those bastards' eyes. Maybe if I could prove my worth, I would be able to bargain with him. 'That is excellent!' I squealed internally.
But I won't tell them now. Remember, when there is scarcity, the worth of the goods becomes higher. A smile tugged on my face that was still recovering from the bruises inflicted on it.
As I was about to take a step, an angry voice laced with suspicion came from behind. "Who are you? You are a spy, aren't you?"
Immediately, I turned around, and blood drained from my face as I stared at the towering figure above me. His sharp hazel eyes behind those glasses narrowed down at me. "I said who are you? And why does the Alpha's scent smell on you?" he asked, sniffing his nose closer to me.
I backed away from him. 'What a weird handsome-looking man.'
"Who are… you?" I threw the question back at him, glaring at him from under my lashes.
His nose flared. "How dare you ask me that? Who doesn't know me? Take a good look at my face," he brought his face closer again.
'Am I supposed to know him?'
His eyes almost popped out from his glasses as he gave me a bewildered look. "I must report you to my father." Before I knew it, his hand gripped me by my arms, pulling me into the meeting room. I fingered and clawed at his hand, but he was not letting go. With desperation coursing through my veins, I bit his hand.
"Shit! Crazy bitch!" His voice was higher than normal.
'Was my bite that painful? It was just a little bite.' I stared at him with a suspicious look. Why is he overreacting?
"Why are you screaming like a girl? Are you sure you're a man?" I stuttered as I asked, tilting my head at him.
He let out a chuckle before his eyes began to shoot daggers at me. "Are you a dog?"
"I'm a werewolf. I was taught to use my teeth and claws when I'm in danger," I folded my arms across my chest.
He chuckled, disbelief glinting through his eyes. "Very good. Smart comeback." He nodded his head. "But you need to tell me why you were eavesdropping on my father's conversation." He held my hand again.
Then, the temperature of the room fell instantly. It was like we were in the middle of an ice land. Goosebumps skittered across my skin. The tension was so suffocating, like a mountain was pressing against our chests.
The strange man and I both turned. That was when we saw the piercing eyes that were glaring at us with annoyance. But there was a particular pair of eyes that made my heart hammer in my chest.
"Father!" The man suddenly ran up to Damon, pulling him into a hug even though he was standing stiff like a statue.
'WHAT THE HECK! FATHER?'