CHAPTER 62: ABOLISH THE RULE

Without hesitation, Rhea reached for a plate and began to serve herself. She heaped grilled slices of beef and lamb, added a tangle of sausages and two runny eggs, then ladled a thick porridge studded with diced meat into a bowl. The smell alone made her stomach growl. A sprig of herbs went on top for good measure, and she poured a glass of juice, humming quietly as if she were in her own small kitchen.

The sound of her cutlery echoed across the dining hall, shattering the still air. Dozens of heads turned toward her, conversations died midword, disbelief flickering across every face. Even the air seemed to pause.

Rhea did not notice. She set her napkin on her lap, picked up her fork, and took the first mouthful with unabashed pleasure. The flavors eased the edge of her hunger and she closed her eyes for a single, satisfied beat. She did not even register the way Ares’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. Eberhard’s expression darkened with barely restrained fury, and Nikki’s lips twisted into a venomous sneer.

Jason and Tavian froze midbreath, their hearts pounding. They exchanged terrified glances. Everyone in Grimhowl knew the rule: no one ate before the Alpha. It was not just etiquette, it was law. And yet here was Rhea, happily chewing away in oblivion.

"Is she eating before the Alpha?" someone hissed from the omegas’ table. The words rippled through the room like sparks.

Rhea finally paused, her fork hovering in midair. She glanced around and noticed the silence and the stares. Her brows furrowed slightly. After swallowing, she turned to Ellie, confused. "Why is nobody eating?" she asked, genuinely perplexed. "I thought everyone came here for breakfast."

Ellie’s mouth twitched, amusement flickering in his eyes before he could answer.

Eberhard slammed a hand against the tabletop. The sound was sharp and angry. "How dare you eat before the Alpha?" he roared.

Rhea blinked. So that was really a thing, she thought. When that short cook had warned her about eating before the Alpha, she had assumed it was one of the ways they tried to pressure her not to eat. Looking around now at the horrified faces and the hard glares, it seemed it was something more. Seriously? she thought. The Alpha has to take the first bite before everyone else?

"Well," she said aloud, setting her fork down and meeting Eberhard’s glare with calm defiance, "what can I do? I’ve already started. We might as well all eat." She reached for another slice of meat.

"Enough!" Eberhard shouted, his voice booming through the hall. The sound made Rhea wince. Too loud, she thought. Why is he so dramatic? And people say women cannot control their emotions.

Nikki stood abruptly, her tone sharp and dripping with malice. "You do not even deserve to be here in the first place. Not only have you insulted the Alpha in front of the entire pack, you are not even remorseful." She turned to Ares, eyes blazing. "Alpha, she must be punished. You cannot let her get away with this."

Ares did not respond immediately. His gaze was locked on Rhea, his thoughts unreadable. Was she doing this intentionally? Did she really think defying him at every turn would earn his attention?

At Rhea’s side, Jason and Tavian’s faces had gone pale. They could feel the weight of the room pressing down on them. Rhea was in trouble. Real trouble.

Eberhard’s hand curled into a fist. "She needs to be taught a lesson," he said, voice low and full of threat, "so that others can learn from her."

Rhea set her fork down, met his fury with a steady look, and shrugged, her tone almost playful. "I’d like to see you try."

Nikki screeched, her voice slicing through the tense quiet. "Alpha! Do something!"

Ares exhaled heavily, dragging a hand over his face. He looked tired, not just of her voice but of the entire spectacle unfolding before him.

Rhea tilted her head toward Nikki with a faint smirk. "Are you sure you’re a werewolf and not a banshee?"

Gasps rippled through the hall. Nikki’s mouth dropped open in disbelief, her face reddening with fury. Before she could respond, Eberhard slammed his chair back and stood so fast it screeched against the floor.

"Get out," he snarled, his voice trembling with rage. "Now."

Rhea didn’t even flinch. She leaned back in her chair, tone almost playful. "Make me."

Eberhard’s eyes flashed as he started forward, but before he could take a single step, Ellie rose smoothly to his feet. His presence was quiet but commanding. "Sit down, Eberhard."

Eberhard’s teeth clenched, his hands curling into fists. "You insolent..."

"Sit down," Ares said suddenly, his voice cutting across the room like a whip.

"Al... Alpha?" Eberhard stammered, eyes wide.

"I said sit down," Ares repeated, his tone deeper now, charged with the raw pressure of his Alpha pheromone. "All of you."

The command hit like a physical force. Ellie sank back into his seat with a faint, knowing smirk. Nikki dropped into her chair with a pout, glaring daggers at Rhea. Eberhard’s jaw worked furiously, but after a tense moment, he too lowered himself, rigid with restrained anger.

"It’s just food," Ares said, his voice steady but laced with exhaustion. "It’s not like she killed anyone. I never liked that rule anyway. We might as well abolish it."

"Alpha, you can’t," Eberhard protested, his voice rising. "It’s been tradition for centuries..."

"I am the Alpha," Ares interrupted coldly. "And I decide which traditions stay or go in my pack."

Eberhard fell silent, his lips pressed tight. Nikki shot Ares a furious look but stayed quiet under his gaze.

"Everyone, eat," Ares said firmly, reaching for his own plate and picking up a slice of meat. He took the first bite, slow and deliberate, signaling the others.

The hall buzzed again as tension unraveled into whispers. Then, one by one, pack members began to eat. The rule was broken, and the Alpha had declared it law.

Rhea watched Ares from the corner of her eye. A small, knowing smirk curved her lips. Seems he’s not that bad after all, she thought. At least there’s a decent side beneath all that stupidity.

Tavian and Jason both exhaled in visible relief, the tightness in their shoulders easing. Across the table, Ellie reached for a plate and quietly dished some food onto Jason’s plate when he noticed the younger omega hadn’t moved.

Jason froze, his face turning beet red. "Th-thank you, Beta Ellie," he stammered.

Ellie only shrugged, a faint grin tugging at his mouth before he turned back to his own meal.