Chapter 21 Episode Twenty One
Chapter 21 Episode Twenty One
Chapter Twenty One
Calum’s POV
I watched Diana leave my study with her lips still swollen from my kiss. My wolf, Arthur was satisfied. She had said she was mine
But I knew the satisfaction wouldn’t last long. Not when there were other males circling around her
Kieran Cross
I knew exactly who he was… came from a wealthy family with good reputation
He’s the kind of guy who could give Diana a normal relationship without all the secrecy and risk….plus…they’re around the same age
Who would pick someone ten years older than them over a young person around their age?
Kieran is exactly the kind of guy who didn’t have to hide what she meant to him
My jaw clenched at the thought
But I couldn’t think about that right now. I had other problems to deal with
My phone buzzed on my desk and I looked at the screen and saw the name of my beta, Marcus. Not the professor Marcus….no, My actual beta from back home
I answered “What is it?”
“What a way to greet your best friend after months of going MIA on us” I rolled my eyes as his voice rolled out my phone speaker
“What. is. It?” I punctuated and he scoffed
“We need you back at the pack, Alpha, who went MIA on his people. There’s a situation”
I closed my eyes. I had been avoiding going home for weeks now. Too focused on Diana and the investigation
“What kind of situation?”
“The council is demanding a meeting. They want to discuss your prolonged absence and they want updates on the investigation you’ve been running”
Fuck! But what did they need update on my investigation for?
That was private
“When?”
“Tomorrow night, they say they won’t wait any longer”
I ran a hand through my hair “Fine..fine, I’ll be there”
“You better be” I rolled my eyes at him
“There’s something else.”
“What?”
“Your father is asking questions. About why you’re spending so much time at that college. He thinks you’ve been distracted.”
My father, the former Alpha, who had given me his position but still liked to meddle in pack business
“Tell him I’ll explain everything at the meeting”
“Understood, Alpha”
“Stop that Marcus”
“Yen yen yen…see you sucker”
I hung up and stared at my desk. I didn’t want to leave Diana, this was especially a bad time, bevause thag Kieran boy was sniffing around her, who knows what if he makes a move on her while I’m gone and she actually falls for him
I mean…there’s a huge possibility
But I had responsibilities as an Alpha who had a pack to run
I would have to go home and deal with the council. Then I would come back and finish what I started
Both the investigation and claiming my mate properly
\~~~
The next morning, I told Diana I would be gone for a few days
“Where are you going?” she asked as she chopped the vegetables while I leaned on the counter, sipping hot coffee
“I have business to handle. Back home”
“Oh!” She looked disappointed “How long will you be gone?”
“Three days….or maybe four…or five” she stopped chopping and stared at me, that earned a laugh from me
“Just kidding, but maybe three or four days” I said
“That’s still a long time”
“I know” I set down my coffee and pulled her into my arms “But I have to go, It’s really important”
She nodded against my chest “Will you be safe?”
“Always” I kissed the top of her head “Will you be okay here without me?”
“I’ll be fine, I’ll manage”
“Stay away from Kieran while I’m gone”
She pulled back to look at me “Calum…”
“I’m serious, Diana. I don’t trust him”
“He’s just a friend, though” she mutttered and rested bsck on my chest
“I don’t care what he is, just stay away from him” I cupped her face “Please”
She sighed “Okay”
“Good girl” I kissed her softly “I’ll call you when I can”
“Okay”
I left that afternoon. The drive back to my pack territory took six hours and by the time I arrived, it was already dark
The pack house came into view. A massive structure that had been home to the Alpha family for generations
I pulled up to the front and got out. Several pack members were outside. They all bowed their heads when they saw me
“Alpha,” they said in unison
I nodded at them and walked inside
My beta Marcus was waiting in the main hall
“Alpha” He bowed “Welcome home” now he had to be serious bevause this was serious pack issue
“Where’s the council?”
“Waiting in the meeting room.”
“And my father?”
“Also waiting.”
Of course he was
I walked to the meeting room with Marcus following behind me. When I opened the doors, seven council members stood up. So did my father
“Calum” My father’s voice was stern “About time you showed up”
“Father” I walked to the head of the table and sat down, then everyone else sat after I did
That was the protocol, the Alpha sat first…. Always.
“Let’s get started,” I said “I don’t have much time”
“You don’t have much time?” One of the council members, Elder Thomas, spoke up “You’ve been gone for months, Alpha. Running around at some human college while your pack….”
“While my pack what?” I cut him off “While my pack runs smoothly under Marcus’s supervision? While my pack continues to thrive?”
Elder Thomas’s face turned red but he didn’t respond
“I assigned Marcus as acting Alpha in my absence for a reason. Because he’s capable, so unless there’s an actual problem with how the pack has been running, I suggest you get to the real issue”
The council members exchanged glances.
“Fine,” Elder Thomas said “The real issue is this investigation you’ve been running. We want to know what you’ve found…or better still, what’s its even about” now they were just being plain nosy
I can’t believe I drove six long hours for this shenanigans
Sigh!