91: YOU EAT LIKE A BIRD

YOU EAT LIKE A BIRD

Ethan was so hungry when he woke up and wanted to wolf down two whole chickens and a few loaves of bread. When he was halfway to the dining hall, he met with Iris, who was looking around, as if she was lost.

Thus, without thinking twice, the gamma approached her and smiled brightly at her. "Good morning, Iris!"

Iris was startled because he came all of a sudden, but she responded to his greeting. It was not clear whether she simply greeted him or she just responded to his greeting.

But then, because they never had a conversation before and Iris was too quiet, Ethan didn't know what else to say. Soon enough, his smile faltered and things felt slightly awkward.

Yet, out of the blue, Ethan blurted out, "This is a good day!" Once the words left his mouth, a thunder sounded from outside, as if to deny his statement.

Iris turned to look out the big window on her left, there was a frown between her brows. "But, it's a downpour," she said in a matter of fact tone.

Ugh!

Ethan scratched his head and laughed nervously. "Yes, I think we have different perspectives of a day being good…" he muttered unreasonably. Thankfully, Iris didn't ask further, but the silence that engulfed them was awkward. He tapped her shoulder so she could look at him. "Are you going to the dining hall to get breakfast?"

"Yes, Hanna said last night the dining hall is around here," Iris replied.

"Oh, great! I am going to get my breakfast too before morning training." Ethan clapped his hands.

"Morning training? But, it is raining outside," Iris said, as she glanced out the window again.

"Nah, this kind of rain is not enough to stop the training session." Ethan looked energetic.

But, it is a downpour…

Iris didn't voice her opinion and walked with him.

"I think the alpha and the rest of the warriors will be having breakfast too before our morning training," Ethan said, but at this time, Iris wasn't paying attention to him.

Which was a bad thing for Iris, because once she stepped into the dining hall, she saw hundreds of warriors busy wolfing down their meals, laughing so hard and talking to each other. It seemed, despite the downpour outside, they were in a good mood to return to their pack house.

Iris couldn't understand this feeling, because she had never felt longing for a certain place. Even as she had lived in the Blue Moon pack for a whole twenty years of her life, she didn't feel homesick at all. She didn't want to return, but she was fine if she had to go back. There was no desire to be somewhere, because she felt she didn't belong anywhere.

"Why don't you come in?" Ethan asked, as he grabbed her elbow when she backed away from the door.

"I- I think I will eat later…" Iris said timidly. These people intimidated her. Their strong and staunch postures were reminding her not all of them liked her yet. Stone was still so cold to her even after everything that she had done, let alone these warriors.

Commoners probably found it easy to change their minds and feel touched by what she had done, but these people were warriors and she was afraid that they would hate it to be in the same room with her.

"Why?" Ethan then glanced at the room and noticed how her blue eyes were faltered at the sight. "Don't worry, you can sit with the alpha and ignore the rest."

No. That was not even a solution. She wondered if she would be able to swallow her food if she ate with Cane.

However, Ethan didn't accept a 'no' for an answer, as he pulled her inside. He did it easily, because her harmless effort to free herself from his grip was simply a waste of energy.

Almost in an instant, once she stepped into the dining hall, all eyes were on her. The room quieted down almost instantly and Iris could feel a lump forming in her throat because of how nervous she was. Their eyes were akin to needles, she felt her skin being pricked uncomfortably.

Ugh. She would get indigestion instead if she were to eat like this.

It was only Ethan's hand grabbing her wrist that led her to the head of the table, where Cane was sitting, having his breakfast, with Jace on his left and Aria on his right.

Needless to say, the mistress was extremely agitated to see her there.

"What are you doing? Why did you bring her here?" Aria snapped at Ethan, as he sat down next to Jace, while Iris sat close to him.

Ethan glanced at Aria and started to pile up food on his plate. "Why? I met her when she was looking for the dining hall."

"She can't be here," Aria was seething, the sight of her alone was already like having dust in her eyes. She was in a completely bad mood to see how gloomy the sky was today.

"Why? This is a communal area," Ethan retorted lightly.0

Knowing that Aria would throw a complaint at her, Iris intentionally lowered her head, not wanting to understand what she was talking about. She quietly scooped a few spoonfuls into her plate and munched on her food. She hoped she wouldn't get a stomach ache and could leave this dining hall as soon as possible. She wouldn't come to have breakfast again next time.

"You know why!" Aria snapped. She gritted her teeth and stood up, as if she was ready to throw a punch, though the one that she faced was the gamma of the pack. She had known him for years now and his high rank didn't bother her any longer.

"Sit down, Aria." This time Cane spoke sternly. He didn't lift his eyes from his plate. "There is no prohibition for anyone to eat here." He didn't raise his voice, but Aria immediately sat down.

She stabbed at her meat, as if it had wronged her greatly, she felt dejected. It had been weeks since Cane allowed her to come closer to him. He didn't even let her enter his room and was always busy.

He should have relaxed a little bit, after all, they had escaped slavery because of him. He should have taken a break for a while, but instead, he became even busier than before, as if he would work himself to death.

What would be the use of her taking the fertility pills if she couldn't get a chance to be alone with him? Though, the bright side was, he didn't find pleasure in Iris to fulfill the king's demand for them to have a child in two years either.

Aria felt the urge to get rid of Iris before it happened. She needed to think about this thoroughly. Now they were in the Howling Wolf pack, she wouldn't have anyone and knew nothing about this pack.

"Why are you eating like a bird?" Ethan frowned to see how little food was on her plate. He tapped her shoulder to get her attention and asked the same question again.

"This is enough."

"Do you usually eat like that?"

"Yes."

Ethan couldn't believe it, such a portion wouldn't be enough to be called a snack for him, but then Jace elbowed him.

"Don't bother her," he warned the gamma, who pouted his lips and enjoyed his breakfast.

Would a runt eat so little like a bird? Ethan wanted to ask that out of curiosity, but it didn't sound polite at all.

===================== 

Today was the day when the merchants would bring the rations, to sell them in exchange for fifty magic stones, thus Cane, his beta and gamma also a few warriors waited for the merchants in front of the double gates.

They agreed to have their transaction happen outside of the pack's fortress. After all, this would be quick and there was no need for them to catch a glimpse of the Howling Wolf pack's state right now.

From afar, they could see carriages after carriages being pulled over by horses, there were around seventeen carriages and along with them, the head merchant came over on his white horse, he dismounted right in front of the alpha and offered salutation to him.

"Good day, Alpha Cane. I am glad that you finally made up your mind and made an excellent decision," he said cheerfully. He was a man in his mid thirties with brown eyes and curled short hair that stuck to his large forehead. He was smiling brilliantly, as his sweet words were as smooth as a river.

On the other hand, hearing that, Ethan sneered. An excellent decision? This was more like they were being robbed by selling fifty magic stones far below the market price in exchange for food grains and dry meat for them to consume during winter.

What a jerk…

His hostility must be visible clearly, because Jace elbowed him to make him school his facial expression. Ethan was irritated, but he tried his best to keep it cool.

"I want to check the items," Cane said curtly.

"Of course, of course!" The head merchant chirped. He led Cane to the first carriage. "See? The goods are of good quality."

Cane didn't say anything and went to the next carriage and then the one after that.

"Alpha Cane, you are not telling me that you will check all of the carriages, right?" The head merchant looked at him disapprovingly.

"I will," Cane replied curtly, but the head merchant stopped him when he went to the third carriage.

"This will not do, alpha. Are you trying to say you don't believe me?"

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