They had sat in silence a little while, comforting Lexi until she felt more balanced within herself. Allen hated seeing her so distraught but he knew that it had been a possibility from the very first moment that Lord Brarthroroz had warned them.
Now that they descended the stairs together in search of something to eat, Allen's face was marred with a deep scowl. Lexi seemed happy enough as she cradled the little boy in her arms and murmured softly to it as it snuffled and grunted back in response and the sight of her with a baby did things to Allen that he hadn't been expecting.
He wanted to see her cradling their own child, to see her belly round and swollen with his pups…to spend countless hours filling her with his seed…
If he was at all honest with himself, even if she was pregnant with Greyson's child, he would be ecstatic and he realized just how strange this might be to others who were looking in from the outside.
Not that he cared about other people's opinions. The only thing that mattered to him was Lexi, and Greyson's happiness. He was sure that the more comfortable Greyson became around him, the easier it would be to talk about the possibility of future pups.If anything, Lexi seemed to be the one who was most reluctant to even discuss this part of their future, judging by the way Greyson was looking at her anyway.
All that would have to wait until Eromaug had been dealt with anyway. It made no sense to put a child in danger with this insanity hanging over them.
"Do you want to tell me what's got your knickers in a twist now?" Lexi asked softly, glancing across at him as they entered the dining hall.
"What? Nothing. I was just thinking." Allen said, blinking in surprise.
He hadn't communicated any of that inadvertently through a mind link had he? He didn't even know if they would share one when she was marked as she had no werewolf heritage. Would he share one with Greyson as well?
"You're doing it again." Lexi laughed at the scowl and almost pained expression on his face, "Listen, if thinking is that painful for you, then maybe you should leave it for the adults, hmm?" she continued with a teasing glint in her eyes as Allen scoffed.
But before he could reply a flash of chestnut hair to the side of them caught his eye and an unknown female voice cut across.
"Perhaps you should take your own advice," the voice sneered as the three of them turned to look at the newcomer, "Putting yourself in situations that you shouldn't and being where you aren't wanted…"
"And who the fuck died and made you queen?" Lexi purred as she smiled sweetly at the woman in front of them.
"I see your words are as poisonous as your reputation," she continued as her nose crinkled in disgust and she allowed her gaze to run disdainfully over Lexi, looking her over as if she were nothing more than a piece of shit on her shoe.
"Listen sweetheart I don't know who the fuck you think you are but if you carry on the way you're going, then you're going to find yourself being served your own ass on a fucking plate."
The woman in front of them laughed loudly, causing the few heads of the people left in the hall to turn towards them in interest.
"I wouldn't be so sure of that," she shot back, her grin flashing wickedly as the waves of anger rolled off Lexi.
"Would you mind holding the baby for me?" Lexi smiled sweetly as she turned to Greyson.
He swallowed nervously as he shook his head and his eyes flicked across to Allen, before leaning a little closer to her and speaking in a low tone.
"I don't think that's a good idea, Lexi. She clearly wants to provoke a reaction and I think that it would be wise to try and ignore her…especially as we are here only to ensure that Alpha Brad settles into fatherhood easily."
"I didn't ask for your opinion. I think I should give her the reaction that she's seeking, and if you don't want to help…" Lexi hissed back.
"Lexi!" Luna Eleanor's voice suddenly rang from across the dining hall.
The woman that had confronted them, rolled her eyes and huffed noisily before plastering a smile on her face and turning to greet Luna Eleanor as she hurried across the room excitedly, her eyes fixated on the baby in Lexi's arms.
"I was just saying hello to our new guests…" the woman simpered as Luna Eleanor ignored her completely and spoke directly to Lexi.
"Have you eaten yet? There's still lots left in the kitchen and quite a good selection tonight actually."
"We were actually on our way to grab a bite to eat, Luna. It seems our presence here is a little too much for people to cope with though. Perhaps they aren't used to being in the presence of royalty." Lexi answered as she threw a smug smirk across to the seething woman still standing at the side of them.
Luna Eleanor glanced across at the woman beside them and frowned slightly.
"I hope you aren't making a nuisance of yourself Genevieve."
"Ah! Is that her name? She didn't get around to introducing herself before her personality really started to shine through," Lexi answered with a malicious glint in her eyes.
Genevieve's face twitched slightly as Lexi stared confidently at her, desperately wanting to respond but unable to do so in the presence of the Luna.
"Well, I'm pleased that you're getting to know some of our pack members while you're here," Eleanor said diplomatically as she glanced suspiciously at Genevieve and forced a a tight smile onto her face before gesturing towards the dining area, "Please, come and have a seat and I'll fetch some of the staff to take your order. I'm sure Genevieve has other things to do with her time rather than bother our guests from the Royal Enclave."
None of them missed the pointed glare that Luna Eleanor threw at Genevieve, nor did they miss Genevieve's reaction to it. They could practically feel the fury rolling off her as she was dismissed so easily, and the hatred in her eyes shone fiercely as Lexi passed the little baby to Luna Eleanor.
Greyson kept a subtle eye on Genevieve as Eleanor led Lexi and Allen to a table and immediately decided that he didn't like what he saw. Without a shadow of a doubt this woman was going to cause issues while they were here, although for what reason, only she knew.
Reluctantly, he turned away from her and followed after Lexi and Allen. Genevieve was bad news and combined with the presence of his brothers here, he didn't want to think how badly things might turn out.