"I do agree, and you two went too far!"
My father tried his best to meddle, agreeing with me without dismissing his guests and his future Mate's family.
The twins didn't seem to be bothered at all; if anything, they looked like they were entertained just the way they liked. That alone made me even more irritated. So while I was fuming, the twin brothers on the verge of busting out in laughter, my father stressed between us, face flustered and sweaty. Lydia was the only one who looked mortified by the whole situation; why, I had no idea. From the way I see it, she is the only one here that doesn't have a shit to do about this situation at all.
"No, they did not! Your daughter is behaving all wrong!"
My head jerked in Lydia's direction, not sure if I heard her wrong or if she was really that narrow-sighted.
"Remember, this is new to her, and it is not wrong! She, or even I, never gave them the right to touch her in any way!"
"Well, I did! And as your mate and Luna, I would also be seen as the young lady's guardian! I have the right to make this deal for her! Especially when it is my family that is involved, something that made me 100% sure she will be safe at all times! Do not for once dare to test my devotion like this!"
She sneered through her teeth.
My head began to spin; deal? What kind of deal? I glanced at my father from the corner of my eye, but to my surprise, didn't he seem to react?
"What, right? What the hell are you talking about?!"
I sneered in her direction, and it seemed to snap her out of it.
Quickly, Lydia straightened up, brushed her hair aside, and looked from one to the other between us all. Like she just realized how close she was to losing her shit in front of everyone. Now, all was quiet, staring at her as she composed herself and lifted her chin. First, she shot her brothers a warning stare, then my dad, and then tried the same on me. My father deflated; her brothers gave her a half-hearted smile and lifted their shoulders. I, on the other hand, tried to stare daggers at her. Like literally deadly, silver daggers in the hope that my wish would one day be granted.
"Are you hurt? Did he touch you inappropriately? No, no, he did not. I gave him permission to come close to you because you are family, after all, and this is tradition! My culture!"
She almost jelled back but still managed to clench her teeth. Then she drew a harsh breath through her nose and diverted her attention towards my father and the guests.
Anyway, she is an alpha daughter, the rightful heir to the title. Whether she had her childhood in the human world or not should not matter. She should be graceful enough to accept her own culture and smart enough to research what she didn't know from the beginning; I don't know, maybe show the slightest interest in her family and heritage at all. Being new and clueless is one thing; being clueless and on purpose is another."
She breathed out heavily like this was a scolding, hurting her as much as hurting me and my father.
My jaw almost hit the floor. The freaking audacity, the.. the.. If I could spit acid on her, I would, but at the same time, she hit a spot I didn't know was even there. It didn't really hurt, but it hit me below the belt. I could not argue because, in one way, she was right. I knew nothing, and I've done nothing to figure out any of it. Not once have I asked or tried to figure out how things worked here. Instead, I passively learned as I went by and came over things. I had been lazy, I had been very self-absorbed, and I felt shame about realizing it. It didn't feel any better having her, Lydia, be the one to force me to see how I've been acting. All I felt I could do was glare at her, hoping it hurt one way or another. Glared at her to tell her I knew she was up to something, that despite her insults somehow hitting home, I knew there was more. I might not have anything to say now, but just you wait for it - type of stare.
"Ntaw, little fly-fly, don't be rude!"
"Do not call me that!"
She almost spat at Jacob, but she quickly calmed down, or at least bit down her reaction, seeing how he didn't care for her reaction at all. Just walked over, draped his hand around her shoulders, and brought her closer to an awkward hug while smiling at my father and me.
"Little fly-fly has always been such a fool for the old ways and traditions; do not mind her sour mood! We are all pleased and do not care for minor technicalities. That is all they are, after all, and the ways are old and almost forgotten. Let us start over again, eat and talk. Let us all remember that we are here for the joyful event of our little sister's mating ceremony!"
He gave me a wink and nodded; within seconds, Ezra draped his arm around my shoulder and dragged me over to the log where they sat minutes ago.
"Sit with us, little wolfy; let us start over again."
We sat down, and he waved to the people behind him without letting his eyes leave mine. Then he reached forward and held my hand in his, only to lift one hand and grab my chin just as I turned to look who sat behind me.
"Don't care about him or them. Let us eat and talk; we traveled too long to argue and have angry sisters hissing like newly bathed kittens around."
I smiled awkwardly and lifted my head way higher than should have been necessary for him to realize he should let my chin go. With an arch brow, he finally took the hint. No, not really, but there was no other way to keep holding my chin without it looking wrong. As his minions understood it, or planned it, just then they came over with two wooden trays filled with different bowls of meat, fish, and something that looked like grilled vegetables. So, to my irritation, it only seemed like he let me go to grab the tray and offer me it. Jacob grabbed the tray behind me, groaning and moaning so much I had to turn around and see what the hell he was doing back there. To make eye contact with him while sucking his finger dry and winking at me.
"Delicious! You should try it!"
To divert the obvious creepy attitude from him, I stared at his tray,
"Try what? What did you have?"
"Here! It was this one, an old specialty from back when the tribe was new."
I saw him point, but my brain just fogged out. Didn't really believe it or struggled to accept what he actually did before his finger swirled inside my mouth and dried something off on my tongue. I jerked back, only for him to wink again, turn back to his tray, and pretend nothing happened. And whatever it was, it was sticky. Peanut butter has nothing on this sweet, sticky, glue-like substance. Again and again, I kept swallowing, and I quickly looked away, seeing he started smiling at himself, eating from the tray. Everything I should have said and should have done began to pile up in my head. My fists clenched, and Drifta started dancing in anticipation in my mind, doing her best to rile me up even more.
"What the heck was that!?"
I stared at him. I was still slurring a bit, feeling how my tongue refused to let the sticky stuff go completely and got stuck every now and then.
Another tray was pushed on my lap, but this time, I refused to let it go. Kept my eyes on Jacob and repeated the question, letting Drifta's displeased growl slip through. And finally, he seemed to get that I was talking to him.
"What? Letting you taste what you asked to taste?"
He smirked, leaned back, and rested his arms on the wooden tray resting on his lap.
"No, where you thought it was appropriate to stick your fucking finger in my mouth?"
His grin, to my amusement, stiffened and faltered a little. So, to encourage the realization, I arched a brow, crossing my arms over my chest.
"Well, how would I let you taste?"
"Let me do it myself?"
I shoot back quickly, letting every single drop of my irritation seep through. He stared at me for a long second before shrugging his shoulders and turning his attention back to the food.
Frustration got the best of me, and a loud growl slipped up my throat. My voice mixed with Drifta's as I rose slowly to my full length next to him and began to speak,
"You speak of honor and rightful alpha descendant and heir, yet you treat me like a fool! You are disrespectful and rude! I will not accept being treated like this by half-painted idiots!"
I could hear both Lydia and Dad gasp behind me, and I saw the faces of the warriors standing behind Jacob. I hadn't realized they stepped closer before now. Drifta's anger washed off me in waves, enough to see the guards struggling in my presence.
Jacob's eyes shifted; they didn't flicker, but his beast stared at me through his, but he didn't move a muscle.
"Okay, so we got off on the wrong foot here, I guess; let us just..."
Ezra tried to meddle again, but I cut him off,
"On the wrong foot? First to openly study me, like I was a piece of meat, right in front of my father! Lay your hand on me! Do not care what you call it or why you, after seeing my reaction, still find it appropriate to lift my braid and keep me there! Then you talk to me and treat me like a dimwitted turtle with two functioning brain cells! I will not accept it!"
I let Drifta push her energy out, really pour her anger over them and everyone around us. I wanted it to be no freaking doubt they pushed all limits! They all fell silent. I could feel my father's eyes on my neck, but I didn't let it distract me. Ezra stepped forward, his hands lifted,
"Okay, so I think there has to be some misunderstanding here. We saw you accepted the deal when you came walking in the dress and all markings in place. Both of us figured it is normal to check them all, see what we are dealing with here."
"What deal? I know nothing about a freaking deal!"
Drifta roared; this time, the vibrating sensation felt more like burning stomach acid up my throat. And barely, I registered the guards taking several steps back when I managed to see little outside Drifta's hyperfocus on Jacob.
"Then I am sorry, please, sit down. We were under the impression that you accepted to be assessed and tried as our Luna. Fly-fly!?!"
He yelled for his sister, still using her nickname, but there was no doubt in his voice. Shocked, I spun around and stared at Lydia, then my dad, before glaring back at Lydia.
"You did what?!"
"You said she agreed?"
My father stuttered,
"What? I just accepted this great opportunity for her! This is the best way for you to make sure she is safe! Nobody can protect her as them!"