Chapter 309: _ Family Dinner
The sound of my heels echoed through the grand hallway like a countdown to madness.
Axel walked beside me. By the Moon, his silence was like a tight rope around both of us. His hand grazed mine once—just a little. He didn’t take it, didn’t squeeze. He hadn’t all day. He was still brooding. I couldn’t blame him.
We’d barely spoken since he saw me and Álvario in the main hall or since I confronted him about his silence in court, or since—you know, our honeymoon, and tonight wasn’t exactly looking like the best time to bridge marital rifts.
Especially not with what waited at the dining hall.
The heavy doors stood ahead. Axel reached them first, pushing them open without a word. The scent of roasted meat and warm bread wafted out, but it did little to ease the tension building in my chest. Xiomara growled in my head, already pissed before the first fork even clinked.
"Brace yourself, mi alma. The circus is in town."
The room was bathed in soft amber light from the chandelier above, and the long dining table was set with ridiculous extravagance. Polished silver, wine glasses already filled, and gold-embroidered napkins. Everything glittered, sparkled, whispered wealth and power.
And there they were.
Alpha Tomas sat at the head of the table like a smug old warlord with a drink in one hand and superiority in the other. Luna Ana sat to his right, posture elegant and eyes kind in that worn, weary way of a woman who’s been playing peacemaker for too long. Camilla, or as I now loved to call her, the ice princess, goofed off on one side with a glass of red wine. Álvaro sat directly across from her. His face was still as punchable as ever, like a magazine cover with a superiority complex.
Camilla’s face was still slightly swollen with faint bruises blooming along her jawline, which were now healing thanks to her wolf. I noticed the way she stiffened when Álvaro’s gaze brushed over her. Oh? Trouble in paradise?
Those two were the perfect embodiment of domestic violence. Every one of us knew Álvaro hit Camilla. However, most of us didn’t care.
I almost did care once until I remembered how many times she’d hit me herself and how silent she’d been while watching others do the same to me.
Perhaps, this was her karma. And like Mateo had told me, let her single-handedly bear it.
Axel and I took the two remaining seats. I could feel the temperature drop the moment I sat beside Álvaro.
"Good evening, family." Luna Ana said gently.
"Evening," Axel grunted.
I nodded politely, keeping my eyes forward. Don’t give him the satisfaction. But Álvaro was already watching me.
"María José," he said smoothly, swirling his wine. "You look... stunning tonight. As always."
I smiled tightly, not bothering to hide the cold steel in my eyes. "I know."
Camilla choked on her wine. Good. Then, she coughed harder than necessary, dabbing at her lips like she’d been poisoned.
"Careful, Camilla," I said sweetly. "Wouldn’t want to ruin your lipstick."
Her eyes first darted to mine and I could see her composure wobbling before it went Álvaro’s way sharply before she fired him a narrowed glare.
"Really, Álvaro? Are we doing this now?" she snapped before smoothing her face back into a practiced mask of indifference.
Axel’s hand twitched beside me. I placed mine on top of it under the table, squeezing slightly. Calm down, wolf boy. He shrugged it off immediately, making sadness settle over me, but I kept my smile in place.
Here, we must maintain appearances. Most of the time, we don’t hold family meals anymore. However, once in a while, Luna Ana would mandate them and we’d have no other choice than to show up.
"Thank you for joining us," Alpha Tomas said, ignoring the tension like a man who bathes in it. "I hope tomorrow’s court affair doesn’t take too much out of you, María José. You’ve been so... determined lately."
Determined? That’s what we’re calling justice these days?
"It’s my responsibility to the people," I said sweetly. "Some of us were born to serve. Others just serve themselves."
Camilla scoffed. "Is that what you call it? Playing Joan of Arc?"
I turned to her slowly, smiling with enough saccharine to rot her teeth. "Well, someone has to play hero. You certainly don’t have the range."
"Oh, por favor," she snapped, not even hiding the edge in her voice now. "You think putting on a suit and dragging men to court makes you important?"
"Dios mío. Let me punch her in the throat. Just once." Xiomara whispered.
Álvaro chuckled. "Now, now, ladies. Let’s not scratch each other’s faces in front of the roast duck."
"Only your face deserves scratching," I muttered under my breath, earning a snort from Axel.
Dinner was served. Platters of steaming food were placed before us. The smell of garlic butter and roasted vegetables filled the room. But the only thing I could taste was spite.
I cut into my lamb shank as Camilla ranted about some fashion exhibit in Madrid. She pretended not to wince as she moved her arm. Her injuries were fresh—she was hiding the violence between her husband and her. I could smell the shame on her like blood in water.
Álvaro leaned toward me again, and this time, his thigh brushed mine under the table.
"Tell me," he murmured, loud enough for everyone to hear, "how does Axel keep you satisfied? You always seem... hungry."
The entire table froze. Camilla’s mouth tightened so hard her lipstick cracked. She was glaring now—not at Álvaro, but at me.
Axel dropped his fork with a clatter. "Watch your mouth, Álvaro."
My own jaw was dumbfoundedly slackened. Álvaro had always been trying to flirt with me ever since we moved back here. I knew it was mainly because I was the total opposite of the girl he thought I was back when he rejected me.
However, he had always done it discreetly. I didn’t imagine he’d so boldly do it to Axel’s face and in front of the entire family even.
Where on earth was this increased audacity of his coming from?