Riya's eyes narrowed as she scrutinized their faces. Anna and Georgia exchanged a nervous glance, knowing they had been caught red-handed.
"What's going on?" Riya asked, her voice firm but controlled.
Anna hesitated before speaking up, "We may have, uh, 'acquired' a couple of apple pies from the kitchen."
Riya's expression turned stern. "You mean you stole them."
Georgia chimed in, "It was just a little snack, Riya. We didn't mean to cause any trouble."
Riya sighed, shaking her head. "You two are impossible. I swear, I've never met anyone who can get into as much mischief as you two."
Anna grinned. "Hey, someone's got to keep things interesting around here."
Riya rolled her eyes. "I suppose I'll have to make sure Lita has enough pies for everyone. You two can't be trusted to behave yourselves."
As Riya headed off to speak with Lita, Anna turned to Georgia and whispered, "I think we got off easy this time."
Georgia nodded in agreement. "Definitely. I was expecting a lot worse."
The two friends made their way back to their rooms, apple pies in hand, feeling like they'd gotten away with something.
Meanwhile, Riya found Lita in the kitchen, busily arranging a tray of pastries. "Lita, I need to speak with you about the apple pies."
Lita looked up, a hint of worry on her face. "Yes, ma'am?"
Riya smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, it's not about the quality of your baking. Anna and Georgia, uh, 'borrowed' a couple of pies earlier."
Lita's eyes widened. "Oh no, ma'am! I'm so sorry. I'll make sure to bake more."
Riya waved her hand dismissively. "No need to apologize, Lita. Those two are just a handful sometimes. I'll make sure they don't get into any more trouble."
As Riya left the kitchen, Lita couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. She was grateful that Riya understood the situation and wasn't angry with her.
The rest of the day passed without incident, and the evening meal was a grand affair, with everyone gathered in the dining hall. The alpha and his queen were seated at the head table, with Riya, Anna, and Georgia seated nearby.
As the meal drew to a close, the alpha stood up, a glass of wine in hand. "I would like to propose a toast," he said, his voice ringing out across the hall.
The room fell silent as everyone turned to face him.
"To my queen, and to our friends and allies, I offer my sincerest gratitude for your presence here tonight. May our bonds of friendship and loyalty continue to grow stronger with each passing day."
As the alpha finished speaking, the room erupted into applause, with everyone raising their glasses in a toast. The evening wore on, filled with laughter and conversation, as the gathering celebrated late into the night.
But amidst the joy and revelry, Anna couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. She glanced around the room, her eyes scanning the faces of the guests, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
Shrugging off the feeling, Anna turned her attention back to the celebration, determined to enjoy the rest of the evening.
Little did she know, however, that the night was far from over, and that the shadows that lurked beyond the edge of the party would soon come crawling back into the light.
The evening wore on, with the music and laughter growing louder. Anna and Georgia danced and chatted, enjoying themselves immensely.
But as the clock struck midnight, the atmosphere in the room began to shift. The music slowed, and the laughter died down.
Anna looked around, sensing that something was amiss. And then, she saw him – a tall, dark figure standing at the edge of the room, his eyes fixed intently on the alpha.
Anna's heart skipped a beat as she realized who the figure was – James, the alpha's brother.
She nudged Georgia, her voice barely above a whisper. "Look, it's James."
Georgia followed Anna's gaze, her eyes widening in surprise. "What is he doing here?"
Anna shook her head. "I don't know, but I don't like it."
As they watched, James began to move through the crowd, his eyes never leaving the alpha's face. Anna could sense the tension building in the room, and she knew that something was about to go terribly wrong.
And then, just as James reached the alpha's side, he spoke, his voice low and menacing. "Brother, I see you're enjoying yourself tonight."
The alpha turned to face him, a look of surprise on his face. "James, what are you doing here?"
James smiled, his eyes glinting with malice.