Chapter 5 In The Movies

Rebecca's POV

The plane landed, and we alighted. Waiting for us was a limo. Lysander opened the door for me, and for a moment, I was caught off guard. I had only seen such gestures in the movies. I was struck by his politeness. "Thank you," I said before entering smoothly. He came to sit opposite me, and I kept my eyes on my lap. If I had learned anything from life, it was that if something was too good to be true, it was probably too good to be true. I raised my head as we moved through the urban pack. My eyes widened at what I saw. It was a territory truly developed. Silverpine was unlike any other pack I had seen, with skyscrapers like those from the human sectors, buses, polished roads, and modern buildings. I had envisioned something similar for Howl Hollow, but Leon and his frivolous spending always stood in the way. No wonder Lysander was so respected. In no time, the limo slid into a compound and came to a smooth stop in front of a towering building. It was too grand to be called a pack house-modern and sleek, a testament to Silverpine's affluence. Lysander stepped out first, offering me his hand. I hesitated for a moment before taking it. "Thank you," I muttered, feeling oddly out of place. A group of pack officials was already waiting for us by the entrance, their gazes flickering between us with a mixture of curiosity and shock. I caught a murmur from a maid near the back. "He went for the wedding and stole the bride," she whispered, her eyes wide. Lysander didn't seem fazed, his grip on my hand firm as he led me forward. The officials greeted us with polite bows, their expressions carefully neutral, though I didn't miss the quick glances they shot my way. Before I could process it all, a tall, elegant woman emerged from the building. Her poise was unmistakable, her presence commanding. She wore a fitted dress and a string of pearls that made her seem even more regal. "Lysander," she called warmly, a smile lighting up her features as she approached. "You're back." She embraced him briefly, her affection evident. Then her sharp eyes turned to me, assessing in an instant. To my surprise, her smile widened. "So, you finally listened," she said, addressing Lysander but looking at me. "My son is finally married." Her words hung in the air, and I stiffened, unsure how to respond. Married. It still felt surreal. "Mother," Lysander said smoothly, "meet Rebecca, my wife and mate." Her eyes softened. "Rebecca," she greeted, her tone warmer than I expected. "Welcome to Silverpine. I hope my son hasn't overwhelmed you already." I managed a small smile. "Thank you." "Well," she continued, turning back to Lysander with a knowing look, "it's about time you brought someone home. And from what I hear, it wasn't a dull affair." "It never is," Lysander replied dryly, but there was a glint of amusement in his eyes. "We heard it on the news. My stepson was not pleased." "That's the point." Lysander smirked. "Of course." She patted Lysander on the arm. "Come inside," she said, gesturing toward the entrance. As we moved inside, a high-pitched squeal echoed through the grand hall. "Lysander!" A petite blonde darted forward, throwing herself into his arms. Her delicate frame seemed to melt against him as she tilted her head up, big blue eyes searching his face. "I missed you, Ly," she pouted. I felt Mila, my wolf, stir with irritation, her bristle matching my sudden discomfort. I clenched my jaw, refusing to let it show. This was nothing. Nothing. Lysander smiled down at her, his expression softer than I had seen. "Rina," he said, his voice warm but composed. "It's good to see you." The woman's arms tightened around his waist as she leaned closer, clearly ignoring my presence. A shard of glass seemed to pierce my chest, an all-too-familiar ache of betrayal washing over me. Memories of Leon's betrayal flashed through my mind, stoking a quiet rage I fought to suppress. I stood still, forcing my expression to remain calm. The room felt heavy, but I wasn't about to make a scene. Not here. Not yet. When the woman finally looked up and noticed me, her bright eyes dimmed slightly. "And who is this?" she asked, her voice dripping with polite disinterest. "This is Rebecca," Lysander said, his tone steady. He placed a hand on my lower back, pulling me slightly closer. "My wife." The word seemed to land like a bomb, and the woman blinked, clearly caught off guard. Her smile faded, but she quickly recovered, stepping back and smoothing her dress. "Oh," she said, her tone laced with surprise. "How... unexpected." She chuckled uncomfortably. "I thought it was a prank." "It isn't," I replied, my voice light but firm, meeting her gaze without flinching. Mila calmed slightly at my response, but the discomfort lingered like a bitter taste on my tongue. Lysander's mother cleared her throat, breaking the tension. "Why don't we all head inside? Dinner is ready, and I'm sure Rebecca could use a proper welcome." Lysander didn't release his hold on me as he guided us forward. The blonde-Rina, as he'd called her-trailed behind, her eyes lingering on him with a longing that made my stomach twist. Whatever game I'd stepped into, it was already proving to be far more complicated than I'd anticipated. I was led to the inner sitting room, where Lysander proceeded to relay the entire fiasco to his mother and some officials. Once in a while, his mother would laugh, while Rina's expression remained sour. Our eyes met across the room, and the sharpness of her gaze should have been able to impale me. I held her gaze, unwilling to show weakness. She looked away, her mouth twisting with disdain. She was going to be a problem, I decided. I definitely wasn't going to be taking any random cups of tea from her. I had an inkling I would end up dying for the second time, that is, if she didn't strangle me in my sleep first. "Rebecca," Lysander called. "Yes?" "How does some rest sound? You must be wrung dry after the long day." I nodded. I already detected the onset of a migraine. "Sounds good," I replied. "Thank you." "I'll take you to your room," he said, standing and offering his hand. I reached for it, but his mother spoke up. "I will take her. She is my daughter-in-law, is she not? If you hog her to yourself, when will I ever get to bond with her?" Lysander gave a small nod at his mother's words, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Very well. I'll leave her in your capable hands." He turned to me, took my hand, and kissed my knuckles briefly. "Rest well, Rebecca." I murmured a quiet "thank you" as he left with the officials, his figure disappearing down the hall with Rina trailing after like a puppy. When did shame become so scarce? His mother gestured for me to follow her, her tone warm. "Come, dear. Let me show you to your room." We walked through the expansive corridors in silence for a moment before she spoke again. "I know this must all feel overwhelming, but I hope you'll settle in quickly. Silverpine can be... different, but it has its charm." "It's beautiful," I admitted honestly. She smiled, inclining her head slightly. "It is. Lysander has worked hard to make it what it is today. I'm sure you'll grow to appreciate his vision." When we reached the room, she opened the door and stepped aside, allowing me to enter. It was elegant but understated, the kind of space designed to impress without overwhelming. "I hope this is to your liking," she said, her tone polite. "And don't mind Rina. She can be... intense at times, but she's harmless. She and Lysander have been friends since childhood." I nodded, though her words didn't ease the knot in my stomach. "Thank you. I'll keep that in mind." Her smile didn't quite reach her eyes this time. She stepped further into the room, and her tone shifted, losing the warmth it had carried earlier. "That said," she began, her voice low and firm, "I think it's important you understand something." I stiffened slightly, meeting her gaze as her expression hardened. "Rina and Lysander belong together," she said bluntly. "They always have, and they always will. You're here because you have information Lysander needs. That's all." Her words were a blow, but I forced myself to remain calm, my face blank. "I see," I said evenly. She studied me for a moment, then smiled again, though it was all teeth and malice. "Good. I trust we'll get along just fine as long as you remember that. You'll be gone soon enough, so know your place. Seducing him is not possible." Without waiting for a reply, she turned on her heel and left, the door clicking shut behind her. I couldn't say that I did not expect it, all the sweetness she was feigning could have given me a cavity. I stared at the space she'd occupied, Mila growling softly in the back of my mind. "Irritating," Mila muttered. It seemed the battlefield I'd stepped onto wasn't just between packs. It was right here in this house.