Chapter 8: ; Arising Problem

"Finally!" Cheska's eyes sparkled with excitement as she gazed upon the majestic manor-style house in the middle of the vast yard. It was her first time seeing the place, and she couldn't contain her elation.

As Matthew parked the car, Cheska couldn't help but comment, "It seems like nothing has changed, except for the building behind the manor. Perhaps they wanted to preserve the natural beauty of the land."

Worried that Matthew might criticize her mother's management skills, Cheska defended her mother's hard work, "My mother has been working tirelessly for you and your pack! And now you're insulting her management skills?!"

Matthew retorted sharply, "My dear Cheska, in the past five years, a lot should have been accomplished. Our pack is lagging behind in terms of modern facilities."

Cheska's fury grew as she held back her tears. She couldn't believe that Matthew was criticizing her mother's efforts after all the hard work she had put into managing their pack.

"You're too emotional, my love," Matthew said, trying to calm Cheska down. "I've been in contact with Aunt Maurice for the past five years, so I know everything that's been going on inside the council."

Cheska's anger flared up at Matthew's dismissive response to her mother's hard work. "You're a bully!" she exclaimed, pushing Matthew away. But he didn't let go of her; instead, he pulled her into his arms.

"What are you doing? Let me go!" Cheska protested weakly, unable to resist the comfort of Matthew's embrace.

Matthew whispered softly into her ear, "I'll go out first so you can take a few moments to compose yourself before you get out of the car."

Feeling a mix of emotions, Cheska watched as Matthew stepped out of the car. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She knew that her mother had worked tirelessly to manage their pack, and she couldn't bear to hear any criticism of her efforts.

"Why do I feel like this? Is it arousal? Why does his touch make me feel this way? The electricity that runs through me every time he touches me...his scent, it's so intoxicating," Cheska mumbled to herself, feeling confused and overwhelmed.

"Stop it, Cheska! It's your first time being intimate with a man. Maybe you'll feel the same way with someone else," she murmured, trying to convince herself to forget about Bradley's effect on her.

"Are you ready?" Matthew asked as Cheska approached. He checked his watch, and Cheska did the same. They were already an hour late for the meeting, and Cheska felt anxious, but Matthew remained calm and collected as he walked through the front door.

Inside Thunder's receiving area, Cheska was surprised to find it simple and unpretentious, just like the outside. "Where is everyone?" she asked, puzzled. They had been walking for a few minutes, but they still hadn't encountered any members of the Sapphire pack.

"Probably in the assembly room," Matthew replied, occasionally glancing back at Cheska. "Later, the council will ask you something—"

Matthew's sentence was cut short when the large door they were heading toward swung open. Cheska's mother emerged with a dark expression on her face.

"Mom!" Cheska called out excitedly.

"Cheska, Matthew! Finally! What took you so long? Did you want a grand entrance or something?" Maurice asked, hugging Cheska and then Matthew.

"It's not my fault, Mom! I was ready at seven, but this alpha thinks he's special and can be late!" Cheska retorted, shooting Matthew a disapproving look.

"It seems like they don't listen to your requests," Matthew commented meaningfully.

"Yes, I failed, so it's up to you now," Maurice signed, indicating that the situation was beyond her control.

"Mom, can you tell me what's wrong? Is there another problem aside from the complaint from the Red Moon pack's alpha?" Cheska asked, looking at her mother and then at Matthew.

"Hmm, it seems like my beautiful Chesk has captured the heart of every alpha," Maurice remarked with a smile.

But instead of feeling flattered, Cheska was even more confused. She noticed a shadow on Matthew's face as he walked quietly into the conference room, leaving her and her mother behind.

"Mom, are you sure he's the real Matthew De Silva? His temperament seems different from my uncle's," Cheska commented as she and her mother followed Matthew into the room.

As they caught up with Matthew, Cheska couldn't help but be surprised by the respect he commanded from the pack members. They all looked up to him, and he seemed to have their unwavering loyalty.

"I know. The pack has suffered because I had to leave you. Although our Luna did an amazing job handling the problems both in and out of town," Matthew affirmed, looking intently at the council.

The council consisted of five powerful families in Thunder City, and they held immense decision-making power alongside the alpha and the Luna. However, the council's greed had become overwhelming, and they constantly yearned for more power. They often sidelined Cheska's mother when it came to important decisions.

"Alpha, now that you're here, everything will be settled. We will put an end to the packs that underestimated us," one of the council members remarked.

"We will work on that, but first let's resolve the issue with Cheska Mcbride," Matthew replied, his smirk vanishing as he looked meaningfully at the council.

Cheska's mother guided her to the front of the room, where Matthew was standing. It was Cheska's first time facing the pack, and she couldn't help but feel nervous.

"So, the Luna has brought her little princess to us!" one of the council members remarked, looking Cheska up and down.

Matthew then declared to the council that he had made the decision to exclude Cheska from the group.

Cheska quickly glanced at Matthew, not expecting that the reason she wasn't accepted by the pack was because of him. But why? They hardly ever saw each other, so she couldn't think of a reason.

"And can you tell us your reason?" the council asked coldly.

"Mom, what's going on?" Cheska murmured, sensing that there was more to the conversation than just what had happened at the airport.

"My reason? She waiting for her mate!" Matthew declared, causing Cheska to blush in embarrassment. She didn't understand why her mate was included in the conversation.

"Matthew, can you give me a moment? I don't know what's going on," Cheska asked, frowning.

"The council didn't call you here just because of the incident at the airport," Matthew replied, leaving Cheska even more confused.

"Cut the suspense! Why did they call me here?" Cheska exclaimed in frustration, growing impatient with the situation.