Chapter 3 A Place At The Table

The morning of the festival dawned clear and cold, with frost shining on the grass beyond the packhouse. Delia woke before the household servants arrived and dressed in a deep green gown her mother had chosen for her. The dress was elegant without being showy, its sleeves embroidered with small silver leaves. When she looked in the mirror, she saw tired eyes and a face that seemed older than it had a week earlier, but she also saw someone who had survived a difficult truth without allowing it to destroy her.

Downstairs, the kitchens were already alive with activity. Cook Agnes called for more apples, the stable boys carried fresh hay to the guest stalls, and Beta Rowan's wife, Helena, directed the servants placing lanterns along the main road. Delia moved among them, checking each detail and quietly solving the small problems that threatened to delay the celebration.

"You should let someone else handle this," her mother said when she found Delia adjusting the seating chart.

"If I sit still, I'll start thinking too much."

Selene's expression softened. "You do not have to be useful every moment to deserve a place here."

"I know." Delia smiled faintly. "But I am useful, and I enjoy making things run properly."

Her mother kissed her forehead, accepting the answer without pressing further. That was one of the things Delia loved about Selene: she could worry without making every worry a command.

By midday, visitors began arriving from the neighboring territories. The Red Creek pack came first, led by Alpha Gideon and his sharp-eyed mate, Maris. The Pine Hollow delegation followed in dark travelling cloaks, bringing gifts of smoked venison and carved wooden bowls. There were merchants from the river settlements, healers from the eastern hills, and a group of young warriors who had travelled three days to attend the joint training demonstrations.

The packhouse courtyard became a bright, noisy gathering. Delia greeted guests, guided them to their rooms, and introduced elders who had not seen one another in years. It was easier to be confident when she had a task to complete. Her family's grief and uncertainty seemed to fade behind the practical rhythm of hospitality.

Still, she noticed how people looked at her when they thought she was not paying attention. Some offered pity; others looked away too quickly. The story of Theo and Lila had spread, and the pack had begun treating Delia as if heartbreak made her fragile. She decided she would not correct every whisper. time would do more than arguments could.

In the afternoon, Caleb joined her beside the fountain. "You have greeted more guests than Father."

"Father enjoys speeches. I prefer getting things done."

"You also managed to keep Alpha Gideon from arguing with the kitchen staff."

"He wanted a second helping before everyone had been served."

Caleb laughed. "You should run the packhouse."

"I think Mother would object."

"She would object to you doing it without eating lunch first." He handed her a small plate with bread and cheese. "Sit down for five minutes. That is an order from your older brother."

Delia accepted the plate and sat on the fountain's stone edge. For a little while, she listened to the water and watched the crowd. Children ran between the tables while their parents called after them. A musician tuned a wooden flute near the entrance, and the scent of woodsmoke drifted from the outdoor ovens.

Then a young messenger approached, carrying a sealed note for Alpha Marcus. He looked nervous, and his boots were muddy from the road.

"Is the Alpha available?" he asked.

"He is meeting the visiting leaders," Delia replied. "You can give the note to me, and I will make sure he receives it."

The messenger hesitated before handing it over. The seal bore the mark of the royal court: a black wolf beneath a crown. Delia's fingers paused on the wax. She had seen the symbol in history books, but never on a message delivered to Eldridge.

"What is it?" Caleb asked.

"I don't know yet." She did not break the seal. "It is addressed to Father."

She carried the note to the great hall, where Marcus stood with the visiting Alphas. When he saw the royal seal, his expression changed. He thanked the messenger and opened the letter in silence. As he read, the easy warmth left his face.

"What does it say?" Gideon asked.

Marcus folded the parchment. "The royal court confirms that the Alpha King will attend the full-moon gathering in Eldridge next week."

A hush settled over the small circle. The Alpha King rarely travelled beyond his own territory, and his visits were never treated as ordinary events. Stories about him travelled farther than his messengers did. some said he was the strongest wolf alive; others claimed that no one could stand near him without feeling the force of his power.

Delia heard the announcement from the doorway. She had no reason to be afraid of a man she had never met, yet that strange sensation stirred again, stronger than before. It was as if a distant sound had called her name through a wall. She pressed her fingertips together and waited for the feeling to pass.

"Are you all right?" Caleb asked when he came to stand beside her.

"Yes. I'm only tired."

He studied her, unconvinced, but did not challenge her answer.

That evening, the festival opened with music and dancing. Theo and Lila stood together near the central fire, receiving congratulations from friends and relatives. Delia offered them a smile when their eyes met, then turned to help Mara arrange a basket of candles. She did not resent their happiness, though she still needed time to grow comfortable around it.

When the final song ended, Alpha Marcus addressed the crowd. He spoke of loyalty, shared borders, and the honour of receiving a royal guest. Cheers rose beneath the darkening sky, and the pack's banners stirred in the cold wind.

Delia joined the applause, but her attention drifted toward the forest beyond the lanterns. Something about the coming visit felt familiar in a way that made no sense. She did not know the King, had never seen him, and had no reason to believe his arrival would change her life.

She told herself it was simply nerves. The future belonged to no one until it arrived, and she would not let a strange feeling frighten her away from the life she had worked to build.

For now, Eldridge had a celebration to finish, a guest to welcome, and a family trying to learn how to heal. Delia returned to the hall, determined to meet the next day with clear eyes and steady hands.