Chapter 209: Conflict in the Kitchen
"How so?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at the ludicrous comment. "Everhaven refused to give us food when their townsfolk saw a huge black wolf attack a woman. I don’t even have a wolf; how could I have changed their minds?"
Kyle scowled at the reminder that it was his Alpha that caused the situation to worsen, but I knew he would never lay the blame at Damon’s feet. I had already seen how his pack members were deathly loyal to him when I fought him during ritual combat.
"That woman Damon attacked was a hunter, and you’re related to her though!" Kyle said, victoriously jabbing a finger in my direction as he found something to attack me for. I blinked in surprise; I guess news of Elise’s capture wasn’t exactly a secret among pack members since it would help boost morale while ensuring the pack remained on guard.
Kyle saw my surprise and looked even more smug, believing that he found an exposed nerve to step on.
"That’s right, did you think that no one would ever find out? Word has been going around that she’s your cousin!"
"...And you think just because the both of us are humans, we must be related to each other? I must say, that’s kind of racist," I said mockingly, delighting in the way an ugly flush crawled up his face. "Besides, just because she claims something, doesn’t mean it’s true. If I told you that I was Damon’s daughter from the future, would you believe me? Kyle, surely you cannot be so gullible."
There were sounds of stifled laughter in the background, as the eavesdropping wolves tried not to show their support for me.
"Besides, where is this news spreading from?" I asked, now raising both eyebrows. I highly doubted that Elise was in any shape to blabber about this to other wolves. "
"Just around!" Kyle said, puffing himself up. "Don’t try to change the subject! You’re related to a hunter! You might be a hunter in disguise too, coming to ruin Fangborne!"
"That’s news to me. I wonder how you can possibly know more about my family than I do. And if I was a hunter who wanted Damon dead, I would have done a better job when I challenged him during ritual combat," I said dryly as Kyle’s face purpled at my nonchalant answer.
No one could forget how I was nearly crushed into powder after that fight. If I was a hunter, I would be a pretty lousy one, but I wasn’t done with Kyle yet.
"I’ll bring this issue up to Damon then," I said with a casual shrug. "I’m sure he would be very curious to know how the entire pack managed to get their hands on such sensational news that targets me, his beta’s fated mate." I couldn’t help but personally remind him of my status.
"We can’t afford to be infighting now, especially not because of rumors from unfounded sources."
Kyle paled at the mention of Damon’s name, and then paled even further at the rest of my words. Everyone else had sheepish looks on their faces and refused to meet my eyes.
My threat wasn’t entirely unfounded; personally, I doubted Damon would let most of his pack meet Elise long enough for her to ramble at them. Not to mention Elise was in no condition to talk to most people to begin with, which meant that there had to be a leak somewhere.
One of the guards had loose lips, or someone was deliberately spreading news to target me. But who, and why?
Now that Kyle and his crew had finally gotten quiet, I could go back to my task. I turned to Jeeves, who was eyeing me with more respectful trepidation than before.
"I’m not here for food," I said patiently to Jeeves, clarifying his assumption from before while deliberately ignoring the curious looks from the rest of those troublemakers. "I just wondered if it was possible to borrow... a lighter?"
I wanted to use the open flame from the stove, but it was an unwise decision with so many eyes upon me. They already suspected I was a hunter.
Jeeves blinked in surprise and he bent down to rummage the cupboards. "Of course you may, just make sure to return it - "
"Jeeves you can’t be serious," another man said. "What if she uses it to set fire to the grounds? Or our pack house?"
I had to let out a snort at that. If the mighty Fangborne pack could be brought down by me wielding a single lighter, they were in dire straits indeed.
"What are you going to use it for?" Kyle demanded mulishly. "Are you going to commit arson? Set fire to Beta Blaise’s documents? There’s no food for you to cook in your rooms, and we have heating too, so you shouldn’t need one."
"Mind your own business," I said simply, tucking the urn in my arms as I took the lighter from Jeeves.
"You - " Kyle’s eyes focused on the glint of silver cradled in my arms, and he lunged for it without warning.
"Don’t touch this! It’s dangerous!" I cried out, barely managing to stop him from stealing the urn from my grasp, my heart racing at his sudden movements.
But despite my efforts to get away, Kyle’s hand had touched the side of the urn, and he drew back with a pained hiss, the skin on his palm turning a cherry red at the brief contact. Gasps echoed throughout the room at this sudden development.
I guess he had thinner skin than Elijah. Elijah had held on for a longer time than Kyle did, and his palm wasn’t as red.
I hurriedly tucked the urn more securely in my arms. It would be bad if the urn fell. I wanted to open it, but I didn’t want it shattered to smithereens or have its contents spilled all over the kitchen floor.
If they contained my mother’s ashes, there would be hell to pay.
"Why on earth do you have so much silver with you!" Kyle yelled in pain, a glint in his eyes even as he waved off concerns about his injured hand. "This is a kitchen used by werewolves, are you planning to kill us during dinner? Do you still think you’re innocent?"
