007.

Stella's POV.

“You're the Stella?!” Cassandra said, dropping on the chair beside me.

I stared at my fork full of meat in agony before reluctantly dropping my fork on the plate before me. I twisted my head and looked at the gaping fish beside me. This didn't look like it'd end soon. 

“I don't know what you're the Stella means,” I said, air quoting the question she threw at me. “But since you're the second person asking me that today, then yes. I am the Stella. Can you get lost now? I'd love to eat in peace.” I waved her off, turning back to my meal.

She scoffed. “That was rude.”

“Well, maybe it's because you're disrupting my meal.” I snapped at her, a glare on my face. I just wanted to eat, fam. Not talk. I closed my eyes and sighed. “Look, I hadn't eaten for 42 hours counting, I'm seriously starved and I'd love to just eat my meal in peace?” 

“You do precede their words,” she leaned into the chair and began to tap her black polished manicured nails on the table. 

“Leave her alone, Casey.” The lady from the elevator, Mila, I think was her name, walked over. A male who I vividly remember was beside her, holding two trays of food. 

His face was set in a frown which narrowed when his gaze connected with mine. I raised one of my eyebrows, smirking. 

Someone seemed to handle being thrown over hard. As much as this was fun, I seriously needed to eat.

Mila pulled the chair out and sat down, smiling at me. The unnamed male placed a tray of food before her before taking his seat beside her. Mila smiled up at him, “thanks, babe.”

Oh, mate, is it? 

I knocked up her mate. I chuckled randomly. That caught their attention.

“What's funny?” Casey asked. 

I shrugged, not saying anything. I stuffed two forkfuls of meat into my mouth. All tables were full, if they wouldn't leave me be, I'd just ignore them. Maybe I should have done that to begin with.

“This is Mike, my mate.” Mila wrapped her arm around her mate's shoulder, smiling lovingly at him for a few seconds before looking at me.

I grinned hard, biting on my lower lip to prevent the laughter from tumbling out. However, he wasn't making it easier with his penetration glare. “Stella,” I waved.

“Oh, I know you.” His teeth grinded, his eyes narrowed into slits.

I chuckled. “Of course you do. Not everyone can forget the lady who whooped their ass.” If anything, his face got red and he clenched his fists together. I rolled my eyes at the act, what a girl. “Enjoy your meal.” They did all ruin my appetite with their presence after all.

The chair at the head of the table, which was the one beside me, pulled out. Owen sat down. However, that didn't stop me from getting up, but he held my wrist, stopping me.

His silver eyes watched me under his eyelashes. “Where to?”

“Room, I lost my appetite.” I said, tugging his hand off me, but he didn't bulge. I raised my brows at him.

“Sit,” he ordered. A glare began to form on my face. I hated it when people told me what to do. “Sit, Stella.” He repeated, his voice more sternly. “And eat.”

If it was up to me, I'd challenge him or walk out. However, he was the alpha of this pack and I wasn't the Luna, more less a member. I had no choice but to sit when I started to feel people's eyes on me.

He was so damn lucky he was the Alpha. I thought as I forcefully yanked my hand from his and began to eat.

“Well, that was fun..” Mike started to say, but a glare from Owen shut him up.

“Owen,” a chalk dragged beside me, making me wince. I snapped my head to Casey. Why on earth did she talk like that? “I haven't seen you since Wednesday.” Her voice sounded girly. Too girly for my liking.

What was going on here? Or better still, who the hell was she talking to him that way? I looked between them. Something wasn't going on with them..right??

Wednesday? Was that not when I arrived here? To further prove my point, everyone on the table stiffened. No, wait, everyone in the dining hall stiffened.

I was right. Something was definitely going on here. 

From my peripheral view, I saw Owen giving Casey a glare. Okay, then. Whatever it was, I didn't care.

Only if I had known, maybe I would have earlier.

My phone pinged, breaking the ice. I unlocked it. It was Aria, she sent messages. A warm smile played on my lips as I went through them.

‘I’m alright, I promise!’ — Aria.

‘I need to speak to you about Kael's sister, Sara. Phone me when you get this message, it's important.’ — Aria.

My eyebrows furrowed at that. What did she want to tell me?

‘Your brother is such a fish! I'll sell him if he doesn't stop.’ — Aria.

I laughed softly. Leave it to Aria to be this way. 

‘Guy. Answer me!!’ — Aria.

She just sent this now. I should call her.

When I looked up, everyone was looking at me in surprise. But Owen looked at me with curiosity and adoration. “When will your pack train?” 

“By five in the evening, before dinner. Why?” He tilted his head and nodded to my phone in my hand. “Who's that?” 

“Aria,” I said, standing up. “See you on the training field.” 

“Wait, won't you finish up?” 

I glanced at the still somewhat full plate. Too bad I couldn't. “You can help with that,” I didn't wait to hear what he had to say before striding out of the dining hall.

I dialed Aria's number and she picked up at the first ring. “Hey,” she panted, dragging the y word.

My face pulled in a frown. “You ran a marathon?” 

She giggled. “Stop it, Kormak!” I heard her whisper. Then, I heard sheets being ruffled followed by feet sounding. Oh, my… “You were saying?” Her voice came through.

I crinkled my nose in disgust. Did I just call her in the middle of her having sex with my brother?

“Stella?” She called out, worriedly this time. “I haven't heard from you in two days, now you seem unresponsive. How are you? What's going on?”

“I just found it hard to concentrate after realizing you and my brother just had sex.” 

She giggled again. “Well, not yet.”

I rolled my eyes. “You wanted to talk about Sara?” I ignored her questions and dove into mine. At my own time, I'd make them all know. For now, I needed to come in terms with it.

“Oh, yeah…” she hesitated. “Uh, I was wondering if she should stay with you? You know? This pack traumatized her enough and she needs a fresh start. Besides, you could make a good company.”

“Woah, woah, what?” I was baffled.

“We already know you found your mate. Everyone just needed you to say first.”

“Wh- how??” 

I visualized her shrugging. “Alpha Owen told Kormak.”

“Jezz.” My hand went into my hair as I paced the hallway. Who the hell gave him the permission to do that?? They were my family for pete's sake! Not his.

“Stella?” Aria called gently. “Why are you so reluctant to let us know?” 

Because the first time I met him, he almost strangled me! Now with the unheard mate bond, it just complicated things. Oh, wait, don't get me started on his relationship with females which I was beginning to suspect.

I took a heavy breath in. Then another. “I'll let you know when the time is right.” 

Just like how I'd let them know about my history with Vorus. 

Yeah, never.