Chapter 10: Can I Trust Him

Chapter 10: Can I Trust Him
Sydney
“Thank you, Alpha Conor, for letting me come here and train. You are a great help. I hope to one day be able to repay your kindness.” It hasn’t even been a full day of training, and I feel like my head is going to explode. How was I going to manage the next two weeks?
“Alpha Sydney, I think it would benefit you greatly to include Silas in your training. He’s been training to run a pack his whole life. He’s technically not ranked here, but it’s like having a second Beta. I always knew Silas would have an extraordinary mate. I just never guessed it would be an Alpha. Considering all you and your pack have gone through, it just proves the goddess favors Alphas.” He chuckles and gives me a wink.
“That’s good to know. We haven’t had much time to get to know each other yet.” That was the truth, but I was starting to feel bad for how I left him. Damn it, I hope he accepts me.
“Mate will not reject us. He’s our blessing from the goddess.” Thora’s confidence gave me a shred of hope.
“Alpha Syd, why don’t you go freshen up, and we’ll see you at dinner.” Gideon looked as tired as me.
“Sure, but one problem. I don’t know where my bag was taken. Alpha Conor, I think your Beta took it up for me.” What was his name again? I couldn’t remember.
“I’ll have Beta Davy show you the way. He’s actually Silas’ oldest brother also.” That’s right; it’s Davy. Did Silas already tell his brother about our conversation? Great, he probably thinks I’m the worst.
There was a knock on the door a moment later. “Come in, Beta Davy.”
“Alpha Conor, Alpha Gideon, Alpha Sydney.” He gives us all a court nod out of respect.
“Thank you, Beta Davy, for coming so quickly. Will you please take Alpha Sydney up to Silas’ room?” It must have been Alpha Conor who told Davy to bring my bag to Silas’s room. Great, I can’t really say anything, or I’ll come across as ungrateful or disrespectful.
“Of course! I would be more than happy to show my new sister to her room.” I force a smile and follow Davy. Sister? I’ve never been referred to as someone’s sister. How do you interact with siblings or your mates’ siblings at that? Ugh, I didn’t even have friends because everyone was scared of me.
I suck it up and say something to break the echoing silence. “So, how long have you been the Beta?”
“About three years when my father retired.” He stopped and turned. “Alpha, may I call you Sydney? We are going to be family now.”
“I suppose so, but only in private and around your family.” I didn’t want anyone thinking I was a pushover.
“That’s Fair.” He was sizing me up at that moment, but it wasn’t for a fight. “My brother has a big heart, and he’s been trampled on. He’s the best person I know and honestly does a better job than me as Beta. Give him a chance.”
Why was everyone trying to convince me to keep my mate like I had already rejected him? “Beta Davy, I’m not sure what Silas might have told you, but I have no intention of rejecting him. I need time to get to know him. Now, if you don’t mind, can we continue so I can get ready for dinner.”
“Of course, Alpha Sydney.” A few short steps and we are at the door to the room I will share with my mate. I can smell his scent from outside the door.
“Thank you. I’ll see you at dinner.” I blow out a breath and enter the room. It’s a decent size and surprisingly clean for a male. Well, the males I know are disgusting creatures, so maybe my mate is different, as everyone says. I find my bag and quickly shower, making sure to lock the door. When I’m done, I am curious where Silas is. I figured he would have come to find me by now.
“Thora, do you think I pushed him away already? Crap, I’m awful at this whole relationship thing.”
“I think he needed time also. I’m sure we will see him at dinner.” Her voice is more comforting than usual.
“I guess we should fumble our way down to the main dining room.” I stretch my neck and shoulders and take a few deep breaths. “It’s now or never.” I yank open the door and almost jump out of my skin.
“Hey.”
“You scared the crap out of me! Why, are you standing right behind the door?” I step back and let my heart rhythm normalize.
“I was about to knock. I was giving you some personal space.” Silas leans on the frame of the door chuckling.
“Well, thank you. What are you doing here?” That was a dumb question. I regretted saying it as soon as I did.
“Besides the obvious, that this is my room? I came to escort you to dinner. You are my mate, after all.” He beamed his perfect smile, and I melted a little. I couldn’t deny those dimples and chiseled jaw didn’t have me swooning.
I look away. I know I gave away my thoughts with a deep blush across my cheeks. “Silas, we better get going. We don’t want to be late.” I brush past him with my head down, but It’s hard to hide my face from him since I’m so tall. It’s the first time I wish I were shorter.
Silas grabs my arm as I pass. “Hey.” I instinctively lookup. Damn it. I’m caught. He tucks a stray curl behind my ear. “Call me Si. That’s what my family calls me, and you are going to be my family.” He kisses the top of my head, and I can feel my heart in my throat.
“Umm, you can call me Syd. That’s what my mom called me.” He takes my hand, and we start to make our way to the main dining hall.
“So, you are going to let me call you Syd now, not Alpha Syd?” Why did I act like such a jerk earlier?
“I’m sorry. It’s been extremely stressful taking over the pack, and I’ve had a bunch of mate proposals, and I was caught off guard when we met. It’s all been a storm.” I’m babbling. I don’t babble.
“Mate proposals? From whom?” His dark eyes flashed ice blue. His wolf is close to the surface. His hand tightens around mine.
This was the first time any male got jealous over me. I couldn’t help but giggle. I was giggling; I didn’t giggle. What is wrong with me? “Relax. The last one got a broken nose as a response.”
We are at the entrance of the dining hall. “OK, so how do we do this?” Si, let’s go of my hand. My hand felt desolate without his; how odd.
“I’ll let my brother know.” He’s quiet for a moment. “OK, He will announce us, and we go to the Alpha table.” He guides me with his hand on the small of my back and a half step behind. I peek out of the corner of my eye, and he’s wearing a coy smile standing at his full height. He excuses confidence and pride. It makes me stand a little taller too.
“Welcoming Alpha Sydney Eld and Lumiere Silas Youngblood.” This was the first time I heard our names together. I peek at Si, and his coy smile has transformed into a full grin. I feel the corners of my mouth start to curl up. This wasn’t so bad to have a Lumiere.
We take our seats, and Davy and his family are seated at the table in front, and to the right of him, I see Silas’ other brother and his family. I didn’t catch his name earlier. Silas’ mother and father are at Davy’s table. A server comes by and brings drinks.
Once we are served, Alpha Conor stands, and the room goes quiet in seconds. “I would like to welcome Alpha Sydney Eld as our guest. She is now one of four female Alphas in the US and was chosen to take over the White Ridge Pack. Our Packs will forever be connected by blood going forward as the goddess has chosen our very own Silas Youngblood as her mate and Lumiere.”
It’s so quiet I think we are in the vacuum of space. Then some very enthusiastic clapping started at the Beta’s table. It was Silas’ parents and his eldest brother. Silas starts laughing. I just stare in utter confusion at him.
“What is so funny?” I whisper.
He leans over and whispers in my ear. “It looks like it’s you and me against the world. We don’t have many supporters.”
I let his words wash over me again and again. He and I, against the world. Could I trust him that much? Was he truly on my side, or would he try to take over? I know he’s my mate, and he should support me, but Reed Tarlo was our Alpha, and he was supposed to act with the pack in mind, and he didn’t. What if this is a test from the goddess?
“Mate is not going to betray us,” Thora growled at me.
“We don’t know that. How can you just trust them so quickly?” I snapped back. “Don’t growl at me.”
“He’s felt real pain and hurt before. I can tell he’s been betrayed and has seen true sadness. Look in his eyes and tell me they are not hiding a deep sadness.” I watch Silas out of the corner of my eye again. As he’s talking to others, his smile doesn’t reach his eyes—Thora’s right.
Si catches me looking at him, and he gives me a genuine smile. How could that be? He was just faking it with everyone else. I freeze, and I can’t take my gaze away. He leans over again and whispers, “Do you want to go on a run after dinner?”
I feel Thora push forward. I know she wants to meet Silas’ wolf. I don’t want to deny her that meeting. “OK, let’s go for a run.”