Moonlight lovers, bonded by fate

Chapter 11

The following morning in the Western Wood Pack, the guards from the refugee house reported the late-night incident to Henry first, as they usually reported matters to him before informing his father.

"Did you interrogate her to find out what prompted her to strangle the lady?" Henry asked the head guard who was standing in front of him outside the mansion. He was wearing a blue shirt and black trousers paired with black leather slippers.

"No, Alpha, we haven't questioned her yet. But don't you think she's too dangerous to be set free as a slave here in the palace? We had to use cold metal on her before the guards could pull her away from the room and release her grip from the lady's neck that she had attempted to behead," the head guard replied, looking worried. So far, none of the prisoners had tried to kill any of their fellow inmates, and Camila's fingernails had already dug deep into the lady's skin, causing it to bleed.

"What pack is the injured lady from?" Henry asked indifferently, assuming that the lady might have done something to provoke Camila's use of her Alpha power.

"She's from the Eastern Wood Pack too, Alpha," the head guard reported about the injured lady.

"Hmm, that settles it then. Go and find out why Camila wanted to kill the lady, and report the results to me first before taking them to my father. You can leave." Henry dismissed the guard and turned back to the mansion.

He could see his mother standing upstairs on the balcony of the second floor, staring down at him while he listened to the head guard's report.

Henry went back into the grand hall to have breakfast with his family.

Soon, the entire Dominic family sat around the golden dining table. Luna Ruth made her way downstairs, wearing a long white gown that swept the ground as she walked down the spiral staircase.

She settled into her seat, alongside her husband and two daughters.

Juliet was excited that she had found her mate, while Madelyn kept an expressionless face, as she hadn't found a mate yet.

Juliet was eagerly waiting to introduce her mate to her father at the upcoming full wolf moon dancing festival.

The maids served their meals, which consisted of chicken soup with tomato sauce and bread.

After breakfast finished, Henry's father spoke to him, "Henry, have you received the report about the last foreigner, the Alpha's daughter from the Eastern Wood Pack? Have you learned about her test results from the refugee clinic?"

"Yes, Father. I heard that she's truly pregnant and is not lying about her identity or why her father banished her," Henry replied, trying not to sound too attached to the fact that he was attracted to Camila.

"Hmm, I was thinking about what category of work she should be subjected to here in our pack, considering that she's pregnant. We can't assign her any tedious tasks," Alpha Collins said.

Juliet frowned and wanted to intervene, but she kept quiet, knowing she was not supposed to speak while her father and older brother were discussing.

"Any task that pleases you, Father. All that matters is to monitor her closely and ensure that she's not a rogue or an informant sent to harm any of our pack members," Henry said, dismissing the head guard's report about Camila's behavior of harming a member from her own pack.

Alpha Collins agreed, "That's alright. Your mother mentioned that Juliet needs a maid, but I don’t think she will be suitable, considering the pack house we have to prepare for the upcoming full wolf moon festival. We don’t need a lazy pregnant she-wolf here, lazing around."

"Okay, Father. Then she should be around and still working with the rest of the slaves here, so we can keep a close watch on her and monitor what she can do, instead of isolating her on the other side of the pack," Henry suggested.

"Hmm, alright, Henry. I will be watching, and you should send for the guards to bring her and let her know. I will be out with the rest of the chiefs for a hunt, as it has been a long time since we hunted. Take care of the pack while I am away, son," Alpha Collins instructed, to which Henry sighed and replied, "Okay, Father."

Juliet's frown deepened, and Henry asked her, "You don't seem alright, sister. What's the problem?"

"Brother, I want the new prisoner as my slave," Juliet said.

"She's not a slave, Juliet. All the foreigners aren't slaves, except for those that did something wrong in their former packs. You cannot subject a foreigner to slavery here just because she's new. That doesn't reflect well on us," Henry replied.

"I don't care, brother. I just want her working under me," Juliet spat.

"Hmm," Henry stood up and said, "You should keep your distance from her, sister. She's of Alpha blood and can be dangerous; knowing that she's pregnant, she could become protective easily. Let me handle her and assign her to simple duties here." Henry stood up from the dining chair, his mother frowning but not interfering with his conversation with his younger sister.

"Why do you sound like you care about the new prisoner, brother? It seems like you want her as your own slave," Juliet said, standing up too, angry as she had planned all the ways she would taunt Camila and, most importantly, tarnish her image.

She wanted to inflict injuries on Camila's fair skin and couldn’t believe that Henry was becoming protective of the stranger.

"Hmm... Say whatever you like, Juliet, but I am only doing my job and what's right," Henry said before walking away from the dining hall to head outside the mansion and summon Camila.

Juliet turned to face her mother and complained, "Mom, don’t you think Henry is becoming too caring for the new foreigner? Aren’t all of them supposed to be our slaves, regardless of the reasons that led them to be banished or to leave their former pack houses?"

"No, Juliet. I think your brother is right. I don't want to think too deeply about the stranger who has entered our pack, but the fact that she's an Alpha's daughter and of high rank in her pack should not be underestimated. I believe Henry is correct, and you shouldn't underestimate her abilities or what she might be capable of doing. She might look weak, but she is strong-spirited, and we don't know her true mission here. So it’s not a bad idea if Henry chooses to keep her close; just know that it’s for the safety of our pack. She might be overly protective and dangerous due to her pregnancy hormones, so be cautious not to scare her to avoid being attacked by her," Luna Ruth advised Juliet as she stood up from the dining chair, the Luna’s seat. She added, "I will be going out for a women's meeting at noon hosted at Beta Paul's house, so don’t go too far from here with your sister, and you both should wait until after the full wolf moon festival to meet your mates."

Juliet frowned as she watched her mother walk away, while her sister remained silent, still seated and lost in thought.