Chapter 91 - His Subordinates

However, Emilio knew that being his daughter meant a lot of danger was on Madeline's way already. 

Xavier's threat to hurt her was simply the cherry on top. 

Many would have it out for Madeline for what he had done. 

How unfair was it for someone to be hunted all because of who her father was? 

And if everyone went by that logic, shouldn't they have backed away and reconsider harming the daughter of Cornelia and Emilio? 

Cornelia was powerful. 

She may not have been present during Madeline's life, but if something were to happen to her daughter, she wouldn't be happy about it… Right?

That was up for discussion.

Moving on from Cornelia… 

Madeline yawned, taking in the sunlight. 

She had woken up to Lily's soft purring. 

"Seems like someone liked the cat bed I made," Madeline chuckled, looking at the cat bed she had made out of a sweater and a large pillow. 

It wasn't the best, but it worked for now. And besides, Madeline doubted she had what it took to be a cat mom. What more a little kitten that was in need of someone well equipped to take care of her, not someone who was still picking up the pieces and hanging on to life by a bare thread. 

'Maybe I'm being a bit dramatic,' Madeline thought in her head. 

She wasn't a hot mess, she was put together - sometimes, at least. 

Madeline remembered how Briar and Indiana had reacted to Lily when they first met her. 

They had both taken a dislike to her until they warmed up to Lily.

Recalling yesterday's events, Briar had asked her where in the world had she found Lily. 

And much to Briar's shock, Madeline told her that she had found Lily roaming around Eudora, and that she had found Lily right outside her quarters. 

There had been no instance of this before, this was a first. 

At this point, anything that had to do with Madeline was a first.

During the whole time Briar had been at Eudora, she had never seen a cat. Ever. 

It was common knowledge that Xavier hated cats. From what Madeline told her, Briar knew Xavier had already met Lily previously. 

Oh, he definitely did not react lightly to seeing Lily in Madeline's quarters. 

He must have wanted Lily to leave. 

What Briar didn't know was that there was one thing Xavier was deadly allergic to, and that thing was cats. 

'Alright, I have to admit, Lily's adorable,' Briar told Madeline the other day.

'She is,' Madeline replied, chuckling.

Indiana seemed to really like Lily as well. They got along really well and Indiana had ended up giving Lily a pat on the head. 

Madeline stroked Lily's head gently, asking her, "Did you sleep well?"

'Who am I kidding, Lily can't respond to me, she's a kitten! I'd have to be crazy to think she'd respond to me when I asked her if she slept well.'

'Maybe I didn't get enough sleep last night.' 

The cat meowed. 

Madeline looked at her, wondering if Lily could understand what she told her. 

Ever since she discovered werewolves existed, nothing was off the table. Talking cats included. 

Who knew? Maybe Lily was able to talk but was refraining from talking to her so as to not scare her away. 

Or maybe Madeline was making things up. It was either one.

Madeline frowned when she thought of how she'd have to give Lily up sooner or later. 

Xavier had a severe allergy to cats, and she'd never want to put Xavier in an uncomfortable position. 

'The sooner I get rid of Lily, the less attached and hurt I'll be,' Madeline said to herself, feeling her heart crack into two.

She didn't want to bid Lily goodbye, she had been an amazing temporary support pet, if there was actually something like that in the world. 

Madeline pouted, "I'm sorry, I have to give you to someone else soon."

"I hope you won't mind," Madeline said to Lily.

Lily purred. She didn't seem to mind it. That, or she didn't understand what was happening and was going along with it.

Madeline felt a pit of guilt well up in her stomach, unable to rid of the kitten. It felt like she was doing something horrible - which she actually was. 

She couldn't imagine the day where she actually had to wish Lily goodbye. The pain she'd feel when she'd be separated from the kitten. 

It had been a day, and she found herself emotionally attached to the adorable creature which was Lily. 

'Is it selfish of me to regret bringing her in?' 

'Had I never brought her in, I would have never gotten attached. Is this why some people choose not to have pets?' 

Madeline got out of bed, brushing her hair so she didn't look like an untamed lion that had been let out of its cage. 

Today would be the first day she ate breakfast without Xavier there.

It wasn't that big of a deal, although Madeline missed him. 

'I wonder how Xavier's doing right now,' Madeline thought to herself.

Xavier was still leading the hunt along with Adrian. 

Unlike normal hunts that included shotguns and gloves, Eudorian hunts entailed hunting in packs and stealthily looking for innocent prey, preferably large hoofed animals such as deers, bison, moose and elk. 

And afterwards, they made their move, doing whatever it took to kill their prey before feasting on their bleeding corpses. 

Xavier, being the alpha, was in the thick of the hunt. He selected which animal to pursue, and if the hunt was going too poorly, he could choose to break off the hunt and return to Eudora. 

He trusted the members of his pack, they knew exactly what to do. He didn't need to go all bossy and bark out orders to his subordinates. 

Xavier only did so if necessary. 

And besides, they didn't need anyone to command them. If anything, they were on their best behaviours whenever the hunt came around. 

If they were to misbehave, Xavier would likely end the hunt right then and there. That would be extremely unfair to everyone, so no one spoke out, and no one complained. They behaved and acted accordingly. Hunts were not held frequently, so this was a rarity as well as an opportunity they didn't want to ruin. 

Returning to Indiana… 

She was surprised to find Briar at her doorstep, asking her if she'd like to join her and Madeline for breakfast.

Pointing at herself, she asked, "Me?"

"Are you sure you've got the right person?"

"Oh come on, of course I've got the right person. There's practically no one here besides you, and another person we don't speak of." 

"If you don't want to join us, just say it. We don't mind," Briar said to her. 

It was her idea to invite Indiana to breakfast, not Madeline's. Oh, one could definitely say it'd be a surprise for Madeline to find Briar and Indiana entering the breakfast room together. 

It'd be a pleasant surprise of course, seeing Briar and Indiana together, which was partly why Briar had invited Indiana. That, and also because she enjoyed truth or dare with Indiana last night. She made excellent company. 

And knowing the fatal blow her reputation took, it wouldn't hurt for Indiana to have some friends here in Eudora, even if it meant for her to have to befriend Delta Briar, who was known for mostly keeping to herself, and Madeline, the person she had once wronged. 

Not the best people to befriend, but she wasn't anyone to judge. 

They had welcomed her and treated her kindly. The least she could do was treat them just as they treated her. 

"No, no, I'd gladly join you and Madeline."

"I was just shocked you invited me, is all," Indiana admitted. 

"Ah," Briar said.

Originally, she hadn't planned to invite Indiana to breakfast, but hey, it wasn't a horrible idea, and she liked Indiana. She was sweet. So here she was, asking Indiana to join her and Madeline for breakfast when she hadn't even asked Madeline if she was alright with it. 

Knowing Madeline, her answer would be a yes. She would never object to Indiana joining them. 

Speaking of Madeline, she was already waiting for Briar in the kitchen.

Since there was no one in Eudora, the kitchen had been left empty, and there was no one to whip them breakfast. 

So, Madeline and Briar decided to make their own breakfast in Eudora's kitchen, because why not? What's the worst that could happen?

Briar and Indiana made their way to the kitchen, chatting along their way there. 

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Author's Note: The mass release is coming soon, stay tuned for four brand-spanking new chapters, all in one day to show my appreciation and gratitude to you all after all the support you've shown and everything you've done for me and my work.

Hope you all enjoy and have a wonderful Christmas Eve/Christmas/day, dear readers! 

Love, your author, mari.