Chapter 26

"This is utter nonsense. How can you allow him to go there, Eli? And why do you hide such important matters? " Emma asked, irritation marked her features.

"For the last time, it was his choice and I worry for him too Em. But you can't force him to do something against his will. " Elina said patiently

"But... " Emma began again but was stopped by Cassius who shook his head in disapproval.

"You should better not tell this to Theo and Camille. " Crystal said giving a pointed look to Crescenzo.

"Are you asking me to lie to my King? " Crescenzo asked in a half-joking tone.

"All I am saying is that this convention stays in this room. He will be uncomfortable if you show him too much concern. " Crystal said seriously

"Well, he is my prince too, I promise I won't say a word unless he wants me to. " Crescenzo replied with the same seriousness.

"Now, since we cleared this, mind telling me what were you guys doing right outside of my office? " Elina asked, leaning back on her chair.

"It's been three months since I was last here, I am sure everyone missed me so I was thinking to give you two a surprise. " Crescenzo said with his signature smirk.

"But got a shock instead. " Emma said sarcastically and walked out of the office.

"Please, don't mind her she is quite worried about Ethan and now this is just taking a toll on her. " Cassius said casting a worried glance towards the door.

"We understand, go to her, knowing her, she will soon feel guilty. " Elina said with a small smile.

When Cassius left and was well out of hearing range, Crescenzo said "Every time I come, I hear the same thing about this Ethan guy but isn't this has already stalled for two years I am sure they can think of something else. "

"You have never met him, have you? " Crystal asked, passing him a beer.

"No never. But heard quite a lot. " Crescenzo said taking a sip.

"Well, the situation this time is different. They have finalised the day of the mating ceremony, and they are going through with it. Emma was pissed when she heard it and she berated Ethan too but he did not say much. " Elina said with some annoyance

"I guess, she is not attending the ceremony then," Crescenzo said with a small laugh.

"No, she isn't," Elina said which just made him laugh even more.

Both Elina and Crystal gave him an annoyed look, they knew Demons didn't think much of these customs and this one, in particular, would not miss a single chance to tell them how fanatic their rules were.

Finally, Elina kicked both Crystal and Crescenzo out of her office when they began arguing about all the notions of their species.

"I can finally work in peace. " Elina said when the office was lastly quiet.

'It won't last long. ' Lizzie whispered in her mind, amusement in her voice.

"Don't jinx it, Liz. " Elina said with a frown and with a heavy sigh kept on working on the papers.

Yet in three days, there began another argument right in her office.

"It's been so long, why is he not back? " Emma said

"Maybe something cropped up. Anyone can get delayed, it happens all the time. " Crystal countered.

"Yes, but the situation is different from other times. I suggest we should go and check on him." Emma said

"But... " Crystal hesitated. Truth to be told, she also wanted to go check on him but at the same time, she was afraid to make him uncomfortable, so even though she liked the idea she did not agree but glanced at Elina.

Elina threw her head back in her chair and looked at everyone in the room, she knew they all wanted to go check on him while she wanted some peace to work.

"Alright, but don't embarrass him and do not under any circumstances start a fight with Alpha Derek. If anyone of you, made a mess I will come there myself, to deal with that person. " Elina said with a warning clear in her voice.

"No worries, we will be at our best behaviour. " Cassius said with a smile.

"Get out. " Elina growled

"Yes, Your Highness " They gave her a mock salute and ran away making her smile.

"You have changed a lot, Your Highness. " Marcus said when he saw her smile.

"Have I? Is it bad? " Elina inquired

"On the contrary," he said putting a hot cup of coffee on her table " It is quite satisfying, to know you have people who you dearly love and care about. Of course, it has also changed your temperament for the better. "

"Marcus, are you trying to tell me how ill-tempered I used to be? " Elina asked with a hint of amusement in her voice.

"I certainly do not mean it but if Her Highness thinks so, I sincerely apologise. " Marcus said with a small smile.

Elina shook her head " Just joking with you. " She said, after a moment she added, "I hope my decision is the right one, Marcus. "

"It certainly is, Your Highness. Have faith in yourself," he replied.

Three days. It has been three days since Lukas arrived at his previous pack, and two and half days since he last spoke to Alpha Derek.

"Are you planning to live in the gym? " Evan asked irritated, but he got no reply from the angry Alpha.

"If you want him back go and talk to him, mauling the punching bag will get you nowhere. " Evan said but that did nothing to stop the Alpha.

Evan was going to continue when his mate Joseph walked in.

"So you two are here. " the blonde said

"Trying to talk some sense in the Alpha but he is too deaf to listen. " Evan said

" That is unfortunate because Lukas just send the news that he wants to talk to the Alpha. " Joseph said with a mock disappointed look.

The result was instant, Derek turned so fast that the other two wolves were surprised he didn't get whiplash.

"What did he say? Did he specifically ask for me? Is he here already? Shit, I am a mess. I can't see him looking like this. " Derek turned so nervous that he spoke everything in one breath.

"Who are you and what did you do to my best friend? The Derek I knew never gets nervous. " Evan said shaking with laughter.

"Fuck off Evan. What did he say, Joseph, tell me?" Derek asked impatiently, at the same time messing his hair.

"Well, he sent a message that he would be here to discuss border patrol and sightings of rogues with you. He will be here in half an hour. " Joseph said

"Damn it. " Derek cursed under his breath and ran off to take a shower.

He heard laughter behind him but choose to ignore it. He knocked off a few members of his pack in his hurry but his excitement did not waver a tiny bit. Nothing can upset him today because his mate was finally coming to talk to him.

Alright, he spoke too soon. Anger was coursing through him as he saw a girl, Crystal, hanging off his mate's arms. He just knew that another group came here with some message from Her Highness and she is also with them.

"So, Alpha Derek do you agree with this? " Crystal asked all of a sudden jolting him out of his stupor.

It was then he realised that everyone in the room was staring at him.

"Huh... I need to discuss this with the other leaders of my pack. I will give you an answer very soon. " Derek said even though he didn't know a word they talked about.

"Well then, we will take our leave first. Do tell us as soon as you can. " Lukas said and gestured everyone to leave.

Soon, Derek, Evan and Joseph were the only ones left in the office.

"You did not hear a word, did you? " Joseph asked with a frown.

"How can I when I just get to know he already found someone else. " Derek mumbled sadly

"It is not the same. There is nothing like having a true mate. You just need to talk to him. " Evan said

"I will think about it. First, tell me what did she say? " Derek asked seriously

"Their witches will do border spell for us, and their warriors will help us deal with rogues' problems if there is any, in return, we have to swear allegiance to Princess Elina and help her if there is a need. There were other few details this was the main gist of it. " Evan answered

Derek took a deep sigh and looked out of the window. He knew he could not refuse this offer whether it is for the safety of the pack or himself.