Chapter 7 • Lies and Misunderstanding 

Chapter 7

Lies and Misunderstanding 

Carlin

 She-wolves littered the grounds, some poking fun at their fellows who could not seem to get the dance steps right while some had frowns of concentration, trying with all their might to remember all the instructions. Their teacher, Delilah stood at my side, watching while Greg flanked my right side, surreptitiously staring at the spirited Delilah.

 “They are doing well, much better than before, I suppose,” I suggested calming her displeasure. She was not one to conceal her emotions and it was obvious that her students were not up to her standard yet. 

 “Not good enough,” she retorted without sparing me a glance. “The Bonfire is almost upon us and they keep joining, knowing that I cannot send them away. I guess word has spread that the Alpha’s son now attends dance practice.”

 “And whose fault is that?” I immediately attacked her. Her only response was a cunning smile and a careless shrug. It was her idea that my presence would motivate the she-wolves to do their best. It had worked for a while but at present, more she-wolves had joined the dance troupe as a means to win my attention. 

 “Don’t act like you don’t enjoy the attention,” Greg rebuked, scaring me when he suddenly spoke because he had been silent since we arrived at the dance grounds. He was mostly that way whenever Delilah was nearby, speaking only when prompted. As for his accusation, I could not say I did not enjoy it a little bit but on the other hand, it could get distressing. Threshold, however —my younger brother— had no problem with feminine adoration. 

 I chose not to reply to him, my eyes surveying the environment silently. Clarissa had still not come and I was not sure how I felt about that. At first, I had consoled myself by assuming that she could not find her way to the grounds but then, she could ask any guard for directions. It was a popular meeting place for she-wolves and very easy to locate. Where was she?

 “No, no! I can’t take this! Just stop!” Delilah erupted, waving her hands wildly in annoyance. “Do you have no talent?”

 The she-wolf to whom she fired the insult stopped whatever routine she had been attempting. She was panting heavily, her cheeks heated and her eyes lowered. Greg held his breath beside me, his pupils dilated in arousal. I felt pity for him, probably cursed too long after something he might never get. Subtly, my eyes scanned the feminine crowd with no sight of Clarissa. My patience finally snapped and I made up my mind to go in search of her.

 “Greg?”

 “Yes?” he replied, distracted by angry Delilah yelling at her untalented fledging. Greg was a hopeless case.

 “You’re good here, right? I have to go take care of something urgent.”

 “Go ahead. I’m good.” His eyes were glued to her like flies on a corpse. A hopeless case indeed. 

••

Clarissa

 As I approached the grounds, I heard someone yelling. I stopped, wondering whether to go on. The complainant was definitely not in a good mood. Kaira adjusted my scarf absently and we listened to the harsh words. Who could it be?

 “Now watch me do it and if you don’t get it this time, you are benched and that’s it!” The high feminine voice held authority and even without seeing her face, I could tell she was someone respected. She became silent and it was my cue to walk in. It was not what I expected.

 A crowd of she-wolves gathered around a dancing female in a rough, pregnant circle. She was so graceful, moving in time with the rhythm of the wooden drums. Her eyes were closed and it was like she had become one with the music, a breathing sensation. With a quick glance around, it seemed nobody had noticed my presence, making it easier for me to blend in with the others. When the music stopped, an energetic burst of applause filled the atmosphere.

 Kaira politely gestured at a rock for me to sit and I took the hard seat. The center of attraction parted the circle and motioned for the drums to begin again, this time ordering the crowd to dance instead. Her face was covered with a sheen of sweat yet she remained formidable on her feet. 

 “I have not seen you around,” a gentle masculine voice announced himself, walking towards me. He was shorter than I was but his shoulders were set in a manner that could not be mistaken for weakness. His hair was shaved close to his head but the few tresses visible informed me that he was a dark blonde. 

 “I am a guest here. My father is Alpha Gary of Black Paw Pack and I am Clarissa.”

 “I am Greg, Carlin’s Delta, and that fireball over there is Delilah, our childhood friend. She is a bit of a handful and does not suffer fools easily. I’ll call her over but don’t tell her I called her a fireball.” He winked amicably at me like we had been friends forever and I could not suppress a grin.

 “Delilah, over here. Come and meet someone!” He hollered, cupping his mouth unnecessarily.

 “Take a break,” she freed her troupe and they sighed in relief. Sauntering back to us, she sized me up swiftly with transparent grey eyes and I found myself doing the same. 

 “Hey. Sorry, I don’t know you. I’m Delilah and you are?”

 “Clarissa. Nice to meet you. I was invited to watch the dance practice by Carlin but I couldn't find him.”

 There and then, I could swear that her smile died immediately after I mentioned Carlin. She narrowed her eyes in distaste and a second blinked them back to normal. She yawned pretentiously and worked kinks out of her back. 

 “My back aches. Greg, would you be a darling and fetch me some ice from the shack?”

 The latter did not hesitate to do as she asked, giving us time alone. Fortunately, Carlin chose that moment to pop in, a scowl on his handsome face.

 “Oh, there he is. I’ll leave you to . . .”

 “I’m so lucky, aren’t I?” Delilah quickly chipped in, a rictus plastered on her face animatedly. I didn’t understand what she meant and I told her so.

 “Well, I mean,” she rolled her eyes as if she felt the answer was clear enough. “Not everyone is lucky to be mated to the Alpha’s son but the Moon Goddess has been gracious to me. I count myself lucky and. . .”

 I didn’t hear the rest of her chatter, everything blurring away until my ears rang like a church bell. Carlin had a mate and he had been fooling with me earlier? He had found me and was coming to us, his amber eyes fixated on me.

 “Oh well, I have to go back to practice,” Delilah conveniently removed herself, jogging back to her students. It was too much for me to take and I sped off into the woods, Carlin yelling my name behind me.