Chapter 96: The Alpha of the Lycans
The lycans stared at her.
Not a single one spoke.
Nina glanced from one stunned face to another before walking straight to the long wooden table. She pulled out a chair and dropped into it, rubbing her hands together as her gaze swept over the rows of wine jars.
A satisfied sigh escaped her.
"What are you waiting for?" she asked.
It was as though someone had snapped invisible chains. The warriors slowly gathered around the table, although their expressions still looked uncertain.
One of them scratched the back of his neck.
"Your Grace, are you certain you want to play?"
Nina rested an elbow on the table.
"Are you asking because you’re scared I’ll beat you?"
A few chuckles broke out at the Luna’s words, and they all began to gather around the table.
She smiled wider.
"So... what game are we playing?"
"The cups."
She tilted her head.
"The cups?"
A bearded lycan reached for three wooden cups and placed them upside down on the table. He held up a small carved wooden bead between his fingers.
"I hide this under one of the cups."
With quick, practiced movements, he slid the cups across the table until they became a blur.
"When I stop, you guess which cup it’s under."
"If I’m right?"
"You stay dry."
"And if I’m wrong?"
Every grin around the table widened.
"You drink."
Nina’s eyes lit with amusement.
"Simple enough."
The warrior finished shuffling the cups.
"The Luna goes first."
Nina narrowed her eyes at the three innocent-looking cups.
The one on the left...
No.
The middle.
Actually...
She tapped the cup on the right.
"That one."
The lycan lifted it.
Empty.
A roar of laughter erupted around the table. Before she knew what was happening, every fist slammed against the heavy oak.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"Drink!"
The pounding startled a laugh out of her.
"So that’s how it is?"
A mug was placed in front of her and filled nearly to the brim.
Smiling, she lifted it and gulped.
Cheers followed.
The next round began immediately. Again, the bead disappeared beneath the dancing cups.
This time, Nina watched the warrior’s hands instead of the cups.
Left.
Middle.
Right.
He stopped.
She pointed without hesitating.
"The middle!"
The warrior lifted the cup. The carved bead sat beneath it. For a heartbeat, the table fell silent.
Then came a chorus of groans.
"No!"
"She got it!"
Nina laughed in triumph, clapping her hands together.
"I believe none of you are staying dry this round."
The warriors groaned dramatically as mugs were filled all around. Then, together, they slammed their fists against the table.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"Drink!"
One by one, they emptied their mugs while Nina watched with a victorious smile.
"Oh, I love this game." she laughed.
"It is called first-timer’s luck," someone muttered.
"Oh, really?" Nina arched a brow. "Then shuffle again!"
They laughed as the cups danced across the table.
Nina lost the next round. A triumphant roar erupted from the table as fists crashed against the wood.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"Drink!"
"It really is first-timer’s luck."
She laughed as she reached for the mug waiting in front of her.
"I am definitely winning this next round," she muttered before taking a long drink.
The wine slid down smoothly this time, warmer than before. Heat spread through her chest and into her cheeks, leaving her pleasantly light-headed. The bonfire seemed brighter, the laughter louder, the faces around the table softer at the edges.
Someone said something that made the others burst into laughter.
Nina laughed too, though she wasn’t entirely sure what the joke had been.
Then...
The laughter stopped. The silence fell so abruptly it prickled across her skin.
Her smile slowly disappeared.
She lowered the mug from her lips and frowned.
Why had everyone—
A strange chill crept over her arms.
The fine hairs at the back of her neck rose.
She turned.
Someone was walking toward the table.
The first thing she saw was the shimmer of his grey hair.
And then those eyes that stared at her as though they could see into her soul.
Rodrigo.
The firelight caught the sharp planes of his face as he approached with slow, measured steps. His expression gave nothing away, yet there was something in the air around him that seemed to press down on everyone.
The closer he came, the quieter the courtyard became.
By the time he reached the table, every lycan had stepped away from Nina as though she were a burning flame. One after another, they straightened, the smiles instantly disappearing from their faces.
"Alpha."
All heads bowed in perfect unison.
The cheerful atmosphere vanished as though it had never existed.
Rodrigo’s gaze swept across his warriors. None of them dared meet his eyes.
Finally, his gaze settled on Nina.
His brows drew together as he held her gaze.
Neither of them spoke. The silence stretched until it was almost suffocating.
But just when it was about to snap, Nina clapped her hands together.
"Oh!"
She pointed straight at him with a grin.
"New player!"
Several warriors visibly paled.
Rodrigo’s jaw ticked. His frown deepened.
"What are you—"
Before he could finish, Nina sprang to her feet.
The movement was quicker than her balance appreciated. She swayed for the briefest moment before catching herself, then marched the remaining steps toward him.
Without a hint of hesitation, she grabbed his wrist.
The surrounding lycans collectively forgot how to breathe.
"Come, come."
She tugged.
For a heartbeat, the Alpha of the lycans didn’t move.
Then, perhaps more from surprise than willingness, he allowed himself to be pulled forward.
Nina pushed gently on his shoulder until he sat in the empty chair opposite hers.
"There."
She beamed, entirely pleased with herself.
"The Alpha is playing."
An audible gasp rippled around the table.
She looked toward Seven.
He was staring at her as though she’d just challenged death itself.
"Well?" she prompted, waving impatiently.
"Bring the Alpha’s cup. Hurry."
Seven didn’t move.
In fact, no one moved.
The entire courtyard had become eerily still. Every warrior looked between their Alpha and Nina with identical expressions of horror, waiting for the inevitable explosion.
Only Nina seemed blissfully unaware.
She rested her elbows on the table, smiling brightly at Rodrigo as though inviting the most feared man in the entire pack to a drinking game was the most natural thing in the world.