EIGHT

"I can't believe you lied to me!" I was timid as I stormed into the castle, nearly throwing the ancient door off its hinges.

"Technically, I didn't lie to you," Rheon stated as he casually followed me through the lobby, five shopping bags in each hand.

I stopped abruptly and spun around to face him and nearly poked his eye out with my finger, "And when were you planning on telling me that there is no travel agency in Direfair?"

"Yet," he corrected, "Craig always wanted to run one, so he's opening one in a few months. See? I didn't lie to you."

There were so many things I wanted to say to him that moment but couldn't, all because there were children present - Clemmy was watching us from the door. She didn't seem bothered by the arguing in the least, only sent her brother an 'I told you so' look before ascending the stairs towards her room.

I uttered a frustrated groan and raked my fingers through my hair. "If my father does his research and find out that there is no travel agency in Direfair, he'll think I lied to him."

He said nothing as I stomped towards the kitchen. If anything's going to calm my nerves that moment, it was tea with five sugars and throwing Rheon with a box of cereal.

I stopped just outside the door of the kitchen and spun back around to have the last word, "Just so you know, if my father finds out and I end up taking the fall for it, I'm coming for you, wolfie. Werewolf or not, I'm gonna skin you and use your fur as a carpet. Hmm, just think; all those feet stepping on you and -"

"Hi, Dad," Rheon abruptly cut me off, looking at someone behind me. In a flash, I jerked my head back and felt the color drain from my face.

A man in his fifties was leaning against the kitchen doorway, arms crossed over his chest and with his eyes locked on me. It was like looking at an older version of Rheon, the only difference being his greying hair and the small wrinkles underneath his eyes. My throat felt like sandpaper when I realized he heard everything I said, including that ridiculous threat. The entire castle no doubt did.

His gaze shifted from me to Rheon. "When your mother told me you found your mate, she left out the part of her being ballsy."

Rheon's brows arched slightly, and he wore a lazy smirk almost as good as he wore that suit. "You should've seen her in the pantry; absolutely ferocious."

My cheeks were searing hot, I'm sure that if I pressed my face against a window, the glass would melt. And all I could seem to do was gape like a fish. For a person who always had something to say, my words have failed me twice today.

"I'm looking forward to getting to know you, young lady." Rheon's father smiled warmly at me before walking past us.

My knees felt weak after that encounter. Forget the tea, a cold shower to cool off my cheeks would do more good at that moment.

After Rheon carried the bags to my room, he left me to get ready for dinner. My nerves were all over the place, making it nearly impossible to focus. Suddenly, all the clothes Clemmy made me buy looked the same, my hair was rebelling against me, refusing to stay pinned up as I wanted it to, and I accidentally sprayed some perfume in my mouth and now everything tasted bitter.

Meeting Matt's family wasn't this nerve-racking - but then again, Matt's family isn't werewolves.

At last, I was ready and Clemmy was right, I looked great in Scottish plaid.

The dining room was just down the hall past the kitchen. It was by far the most rustic room of the castle I've seen so far and still maintained most of its original middle-age designs. The floor was made of wood - mahogany, like most doors and furniture in the castle - with a patterned carpet underneath the long table. The walls were covered with tapestries, gleaming gold candlesticks were lit on every surface, and a great chandelier dangled above the table.

"There she is!" My head turned towards Seren, who drew the rest of the room's attention to me.

Rheon was on his feet in a flash, his eyes raking up and down my figure. He seemed to be rooted in one place until Clemmy elbowed him in the ribs, snapping him out of his trance. In a beat, he crossed the room until he was standing beside me, holding out his arm for me to take.

Meanwhile, his family has risen from their spots at the table and crowded around us. I recognized most of them; Reyna and Alexander, Clemmy, Seren, Rieka and her husband, and finally, Craig. However, three of the faces were unfamiliar.

"While you've already met most of them," Rheon started, "I still want to formally introduce you." He started from the left, "My sisters, Seren and Clemmy, my mother Rieka and father Emric, my uncle Craig -"

"Uncle?" I interrupted before thinking. My brows nearly flew off my face when I looked at Craig. He practically introduced me to the paintings of dukes and duchesses on the wall, and yet, he seemed to have forgotten to add that he's related to them. "You're a duke as well?"

He shrugged. "Duke, noble, werewolf, unicorn, call me what ya like, lass, I'm still only here for the wine."

I was flabbergasted at this revelation and hardly paid attention to Rheon as he pointed at one of the unfamiliar people. "This is my youngest brother, Victor."

Unlike Rheon and his father, Victor's eyes were more on the grey side like Clemmy's, but just like the rest of the family, he had dark hair.

"A pleasure, my lady." Victor winked and offered a humorous bow. He's a charmer, I could already tell that much.

"You already know Reyna and Alexander, so that leaves my grandmother Selene and our head of staff, Edda," Rheon named the last two people in line.

Selene approached me and engulfed me in a bone-crushing hug. "It's so nice to have another lady in the castle! And don't be shy to call me grandma, you're basically part of the pack already."

Rheon coughed awkwardly and subtly shook his head at Selene. Her brows arched a bit before she stepped back with a weary smile. "Well, then, what are we waiting for? Let's eat."

I was seated between Rheon and Seren while Edda called in the servants. A silver plate was placed in front of me and after the servant lifted the lid, the mouth-watering smell of roast chicken infiltrated my senses.

Emric slid his chair back to stand, lifting his glass as he said, "Before we dine, I would like to welcome Ashlyn to Craven Pride. Although you're only staying until the end of the week, you are part of the pack now and a pack looks out for one another. We will make sure every moment of your time here is well spent, and that you'll always be welcome in our home and in our hearts until the Great Hunt ends."

"Until the Great Hunt ends!" Everyone cheered and clinked their glasses together.

After taking a sip of wine, I asked no one in particular, "What does 'until the Great Hunt ends' mean? I heard you saying that during the wedding as well."

"It's the werewolf's way of saying until death comes for us," Emric explained, "We see life as a hunt. What we're hunting for, however, is each one's own choice. It's the prize at the end that really matters."

"Simply stated," Rheon added and looked from his father to me, "it's like having a goal in life. You can only die happy if you achieved it."

I shrugged; it made sense. My goal in life would be to travel the world and capture every corner of it on camera. One day I'll get to say I've been everywhere, seen everything, experience everything there is to experience. It would take an eternity of 'hunting' for me before I could say I've claimed my prize.

My daydream ended when I saw something that made my heart miss a beat. "No, wait, stop!" Rheon's hands froze mid-air just a few inches above the silver cutlery on either side of his plate. All heads turned to me in question. "That's silver, it'll kill you!"

A moment of silence followed before the entire table burst out laughing. I sat there baffled. What is so funny?

"You're adorable," Seren breathed between giggles, "It's just silver, love. See?" My thoughts were rendered blank as I watched her pick up her knife and fork and nothing happened. She chuckled at my expression. "Maybe lay off the werewolf books and movies, okay."

"Your weakness isn't silver?" My entire life was a lie, "What are you affected by then?"

"Well, we're not fireproof," Victor stated and waved one of the candlesticks at Rheon.

The latter flinched back before saying, "We're not exactly foolproof either." With that, he chucked a bread roll at Victor and hit him directly in the head. Clemmy snorted and clamped her hand across her mouth.

I was still floored by the whole 'silver is not their weakness' concept, I hardly heard Emric when he spoke, "So, Ashlyn, tell us about yourself. I know it's what your younger generation call a cliche question, but we're all curious about you."

My fingers fiddled with the napkin when all heads turned to me. "What would you like to know?"

"Tell us about your family." Rieka smiled warmly.

I shrugged, playing around the food with my fork to avoid making eye contact. "They're just that; my family. I didn't actually get to choose them."

Seren snorted. "None of us does."

Rieka clicked her tongue at her daughter and asked again, "Any siblings?"

"Just my older sister Madison," I answered, "She's in her final year at college to get her degree."

"And your mum and dad?" Clemmy asked her question.

"My mother and I are much alike. My dad..." My voice trailed off. I didn't exactly know how to talk about him. All there was to say was he's stern, always comparing me to my sister, and pressuring me to set aside my dreams and fantasies to start living responsibly. Don't get me wrong, my father's a good man, he just didn't have enough faith in me.

And that's what hurt me the most.

Out of the blue, I felt Rheon's hand on my knee under the table. It wasn't meant to insinuate something. If anything, it calmed me enough to think straight and answer the rest of the question, "My father's just like any other fathers; he wants what's best for his children."

"I'll drink to that." Emric lifted his glass and stared at Rheon. "I'll die a happy man if I knew I did everything in my power to give my children the life they wanted."

If I wasn't mistaken, I swear I saw Rheon and his father having a silent conversation through their eyes. But I shook it off, not in the slightest mood to make an even bigger fool of myself by asking if they could hear each other's thoughts. My food was getting cold anyway.

Dinner lasted another hour and after dessert, everyone said their goodnight and retired to their rooms. Rheon escorted me to mine, placed a goodnight kiss on my hand, and disappeared down the dimly lit hallway.

However, as I lied awake in bed a few hours later, I made peace knowing that I wouldn't fall asleep any time soon.

Pushing the covers aside, I slipped out of bed and out into the hall. The castle felt even older in the dark. I imagined myself in medieval times, tiptoeing through the corridors in only a flowy nightgown and a candle in hand. It was so easy to escape reality here. I would've completely lost myself in this fantasy if it weren't for the constant reminder that I'll have to go home at the end of the week.

I found myself at a fork in the road when I reached the bottom of the stairs - I could go left towards the kitchen and get a midnight snack, or I could go right and explore the rest of the castle. No one said anything about the rest of the castle being off-limits.

My feet made the decision for me when they chose the hall on the right.

The new corridor was the same as the rest, only it was longer and had fewer doors on either side. I opened the first door on a crack and peered in; a library. Of course, a castle would have its own library. No duke or duchess want to stand in a cue to check out their books.

Behind the second door, I found another living room with a flat-screen television, leather couches, a minibar, and a grand piano in front of the window. Yes, the family room, because even royals and nobles like to watch Netflix now and then. I wondered what kind of shows they would watch.

I was about to open the third door when, luckily, I heard two voices coming from behind it. And being the curious person I am, I pressed my ear to the wood to recognize them as Rheon and his father. But what I heard, on the other hand, left me perplexed.

"Are you absolutely sure?" Emric's voice sounded grave and after a moment, Rheon answered.

"Yes, I still can't smell anything. The curse is still active."

"But you found her, doesn't that mean you broke the curse?"

"Technically, she found me and no, it's still far from broken." Rheon uttered a sharp breath. "I have to mark her. That's the only way that witch said I could break it."

"Then what's stopping you, son? You know damn well you don't have much time left."

"I know that!" Rheon's voice raised a pitch, "But it doesn't work that way; she must want it. And I'm afraid a week's not enough to change her mind."

A short silence followed before Emric spoke again, "What are you going to do?"

"Enjoy the little time I have left. At least I know I had the chance to meet her, although it was too late."

My brows furrowed. What was that supposed to mean? What curse? And what did he mean when he said he only had a little time left?

"Someone's at the door," Emric stated out of the blue.

My heart dropped to my stomach when I realized I'm caught. Without a second thought, I took off sprinting down the hall, not stopping once before reaching my room. I dived back into bed and pulled the covers up to my chin, very much aware of my heart hammering in my throat.

That was close.