Reclaimed By My Alpha (Natalia and Andrei) novel Chapter 253

Chapter 253

Natalia

Dinner that night was tense, to say the least. I had thought that it would get better without Andrei here, but I was wrong. My father and brother seemed more at ease initially, but Celeste and Helena only seemed to double down on their obvious disdain of me from the very beginning.

“Natalia,” Celeste said as the main course was served–small roasted quails, glistening with butter and rich with fragrant spices that made my mouth water. “I saw you training today in the arena.”

I glanced at David and smiled. “David’s been teaching me the Bloodmoon warrior style of fighting. It’s been really interesting.”

Celeste and her mother exchanged arch looks. “Ladies don’t typically fight,” Helena pointed out.

It took all of my willpower to fight the urge to mention that her precious daughter had physically assaulted her own fiance practically right in front of me. Instead, I popped a piece of meat into my mouth and said, “That’s not how we do things in the territories anymore. Also, I’m pretty sure I saw over a dozen women in the arena.” Helena’s face puckered and she opened her mouth to say something, but my father quickly cleared his throat and held up his cup of wine.

“Let’s toast,” he interrupted, forcing a smile. “To another family dinner. I’m so grateful to have everyone together.”

I held up my own cup, as did David. Helena and Celeste were a little less enthusiastic, although they clinked their glasses with ours and drank. I had to admit, the wine here was good, if not quite as good as that produced by Ashmoor.

“Well, you should still be careful out there,” Celeste went on after a moment of silence. “Our warriors are brutal. It would be a shame if you broke your pretty face.”

“Celeste,” Alexander said in a warning tone, fingers tightening around his cutlery.

I flashed him a reassuring smile, but on the inside, I was thinking, fuck it. I reached for the platter of potatoes and vegetables, and as I did, I looked at Celeste and said in a sweet voice, “Celeste, where’s Karl? He’s not having dinner with us tonight?”

At the mention of Karl, Celeste’s spine went rigid. Beside her, Helena looked like she was about to choke on her quail. I kept my face neutral, pretending as if I had no idea I’d just struck a chord.

But really, I knew exactly where Karl was.

He was hiding away in the library or in his chambers, nursing the bruise that had formed on his face.

Finally, Celeste composed herself and shrugged. “He’s busy tonight. Always has his nose in some book or another.” She shot me a snide look. “Why do you care, anyway?”

I shrugged. “Just wondering. I like his company.‘

“Hmph. I’m sure you do.”

”

+25 Bonu

Celeste made a point of physically turning in her chair and refused to look at me for the rest of the meal after that. I almost wanted to laugh out loud at the high school drama of it all; as if I were trying to steal her boyfriend. Or maybe she was just afraid I was going to take away her long–standing Prom Queen tiara.

Either way, I spent the rest of the meal keeping mostly to myself. My father asked me occasional questions about Ashmoor, the twins, and my life, and I answered honestly until it came to the matter of me and Andrei. “Natalia, surely he has some intention of marrying you,” my father, face slightly flushed from too much wine, said. “I don’t mean to pry, but… You’re a beautiful, intelligent young woman. Any man would be foolish not to

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